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)

 

101.5 Degrees: The 2009 MGH Surgey Intern Music Video

Procrastination is great; here's a WICKED hilarious MGH Surgery Intern Digital Short that just crossed my path. More amazing--the roomie knows these interns at MGH. Nealmeister approves (a sophomoric, wrong and cliche as the video may be)!

101.5 Degrees: The 2009 MGH Surgey Intern Music Video

Source: bit.ly

The 2009 MGH Surgery Change Show Intern Music Video that rocked a nation. Shot live on the helipad, in the ether dome, in the burn unit, and in the real-life operating rooms of Massachusetts General Hospital.

The Knowledge Book (for my kid, of course)

I found myself proctoring finals at my alma mater law school during my first week of sabbatical from the firm. For some folks, just the thought of the word "proctor" makes them shiver and seize. My friend Zach, on one of our sangria and pale ale excursions in the South End (you can guess who drank what--I can assure you), literally shuddered every time I mentioned the word "proctor."  I'm sure, by the end of the evening, Zach wanted to me hung after I recounted 5 or 7 tales regarding my first season undertaking this time-honored responsibility.

On the flipside of those who seize are those who soak proctoring up. These people love it; they breathe it; they're in the circuit and end up proctoring law school exams at all the law schools, and the SATs at all the high schools, and even the state police exam (whenever that exam comes up).  I don't think I'll ever get to that point, but I do know that I'm definitely in this cohort of folks. And I do know the value of the experience--aside from making easy money and re-living my law school exam days, I'm catching up on a year's worth of book reading, blog entry editing, and among my favorite things, casual magazine reading, coupled, of course, with a good dose of mind meandering and pondering.

No big secret; flipping through magazines is my favorite proctoring pasttime. Sure, I could hysterically walk through the exam room, get noticed, become a major distraction, enforce my authoritarian role. But that's no fun, and if there anything I remember from surviving law school exams, its that I didn't want a douchebag dude or some wandering woman freaking me out as I tried to apply some war powers test to my Constitutional Law fact pattern.

So, no constant walking. But I did get back to my long-forgotten magazine subscription backlog. I've been in my own fantastic, brilliant, introverted world of amazement. Fashion advice. Being a D.I.Y. man. Affirming my desire to plant, tend and grow my own urban pact of green.  Appreciating Jay Leno or delving into the world of Coast Guard personnel patroling the rough patches of Ocean off the Alaskan Alleutians. I love it all. Among the 10,000 things I enjoy passing my time, there's nothing more that infuses more energy--more creative spirit--inside of me than reading Gentleman's Quarterly. I know, I know. But the articles are interesting. It contains just enough of everything. The writing has managed to stay 1/2 decent and tolerable.  And I don't feel like a cultural prick (or, alternatively, devoid of acquired culture) as I do when I'm flipping through The New Yorker or Atlantic Monthly, or, yes, even Details (did I just admit I read that? Yes, I did...). GQ just exudes an element of sophistication with a nice does of sexual ambiguity--no need to go further there--with a healthy dose of randomness. I definitely square up to it.

Now, back to this knowledge book.

When I found myself folding pages in whatever back issue of GQ I was reading last week, I happened upon a nice, little epiphany. Here's all this creative, useful, good stuff. Why don't I create my own art/culture/life magazine file... or better yet, a knowledge book? Now, this is nothing like the fabled bible in American Pie, and it won't certainly serve as the cornerstone of my compendium of articles to be published in a yearly review (just think of all the copyright issues alone. Grrr!)--but I do want to have something to pass along, something akin to the "Build Your Own Toolbox" or "Here's How to Start Your Victory Garden" that my dad passed to me. Let's face it, I'm not the greatest handyman or gardener or landscaper. But I'm never going to get a chance to start something like this like I can right now; I'm on sabbatical, damn it! Plus, I have all of this "let me be my own creative editor" energy that I need to burn. There are only so many pieces of artwork I can frame or pictures that I can shoot before even those things get a bit boring.

There it is, the plans for my knowledge book. I'll start keeping a tally of what articles make it.... and which ones you suggest I should include.

Fonts of Love

Everyone knows I love fonts.  It's something artistically geeky that I've fist paid attention to since I first pondered -- in Kindergarten -- the various type-settings used by the MBTA for its various signage and schedule cards (particularly those of the vintage variety).  As of late, I find myself swooning over the New Johnston typeface.  In part, it's because I love trains and all things London.  I also think New Johnston (and its relative, Gill Sans) makes my resume look sexy and amazing. 

I find myself constantly thinking about different fonts for different reasons. Perhaps the optimist inside of me wants to keep thinking about my next creative project, you know, the one right behind my "Get out the Vote" poster from 2000.

So, fast forward to Typographica’s Favorite Typefaces of 2008. My friend Josh sent the link along to me, and I've been in font heaven ever since.  I really like Marat and the Modern Suite.  There's something clean and throwbackish and nostalgic yet striking and handsome about those two sets.  I feel as though I should use them as the font in my first book or for the layout for whatever magazine I decide I'd work at (after I make a career shift). I'd like to use Stag on one of my rafting trip T-shirt designs... and my wedding invitations.

Here's what Typographica's got to say:

“Stylistically, this year’s selections run the typographic gamut: slab serif, typewriter, blackletter, stencil, brush script, geometric sans … and some that are difficult to neatly classify. Some represent contemporary innovations in editorial style, while others look back to pre-typographic history for inspiration.”

Awwww font bliss. Fonts of love. Fonts to love.

A SAGging Profession of Love

I'm having trouble watching the State of the Union address with my complete and undivided attention.  Something about being tired and "having ADD" and instead being distracted by some of the fotos from the 2008 Screen Actor Guild Awards.  Let me tell you, some hideous clothing and hairstyles draped the bodies of our friends in Hollywood.  But, some things don't change (completely).  That includes the eternal hotness of Jeremy Piven and Eva Longoria.

I've professed my mancrush before (scroll down to 'Piven my Pivens').   I still haven't upgraded my Comcast package to include HBO, though.  That's too bad, since I'm missing all this Entourage.   

Ok, maybe I should pay attention to the SOTUA a bit more closely.  I'm a Government major for Christ's sake!

Mike's, Juno and HIPAA forms

What a great, lazy day.  Some people from Northwestern Mutual came to my house to interrogate me for life insurance stuff.  I napped.  I blogged.  I went to the gym.  And me and Jess took the Corolla up to Showcase Cinemas in Revere, saw Juno, and then came to Charlestown (stopping off, of course, at Mike's Roast Beef on Broadway).  Ok, I just sounded like a first grader writing a composition on "what did you do on Saturday?"

So, Juno was ok.  So were the chicken finger platters from Mike's.  But for some reason, the rerun of Saturday Night Live from October is friggin' hilarious!  I think the Amy Moehler skit with Bon Jovi started off a night of goodness.

Anyway, here's the quote of the day: "So, do you want me to sign you up a HIPAA form so I can release my sex records to you?"   ooops...

In re: Addicted to House

Alex, through his girlfriend, has got me addicted to House MD now.  I guess it's not surprising that I like another hospital-based or CSI-based TV show.  And I'm not surprised that I'm opting to stay in tonight and watch season one.  This has got to be the good side of the writer's strike: there's a lot of catch up to be done, so now, it's being done.

The House quip of the night came from Chase, the seminary school quip.  I guess it's not really his entirely; some of it comes from the Bible:

"I was in seminary school. They asked us once what our favorite passage was. I chose 1 Peter 1:7. 'These trials only test your faith to see whether or not it is strong and pure. Your faith is being tested as fire tests gold and purifies it.'"

Are you a "Seagull Manager?"

My assistant sent me the 2008 additions to the essential vocab works for the workplace.  Reminds me of a conversation I had with Alan when we were driving up to Madison, Wisconsin.  I just had to post.  I may just forward it, too...

1. BLAMESTORMING: Sitting around in a group, discussing why a deadline was missed or a project failed, and who was responsible.

2. SEAGULL MANAGER: A manager, who flies in, makes a lot of noise, craps on everything, and then leaves.

3. ASSMOSIS: The process by which some people seem to absorb success and advancement by kissing up to the boss rather than working hard

4. SALMON DAY: The experience of spending an entire day swimming upstream only to get screwed and die in the end.

5. CUBE FARM: An office filled with cubicles.

6. PRAIRIE DOGGING: When someone yells or drops something loudly in a cube farm, and people's heads pop up over the walls to see what's going on.

7. MOUSE POTATO: The on-line, wired generation's answer to the couch potato.

8. SITCOMs: Single Income, Two Children, Oppressive Mortgage. What Yuppies get into when they have children and one of them stops working to stay home with the kids.

9. STRESS PUPPY: A person who seems to thrive on being stressed out and whiny.

10. SWIPEOUT: An ATM or credit card that has been rendered useless because magnetic strip is worn away from extensive use.

11. XEROX SUBSIDY: Euphemism for swiping free photocopies from one's workplace.

12. IRRITAINMENT: Entertainment and media spectacles that are Annoying but you find yourself unable to stop watching them.

13. PERCUSSIVE MAINTENANCE: The fine art of whacking the crap out of an electronic device to get it to work again. Often feel like doing this to my comput er------

14. ADMINISPHERE: The rarefied organizational layers beginning just above the rank and file. Decisions that fall from the adminisphere are often profoundly inappropriate or irrelevant to the problems they were designed to solve.

15. 404: Someone who's clueless. From the World Wide Web error Message "404 Not Found," meaning that the requested site could not be located.

16. GENERICA: Features of the American landscape that are exactly the same no matter where one is, such as fast food joints, strip malls, and subdivisions.

17. OHNOSECOND: That minuscule fraction of time in which you realize that you've just made a BIG mistake. (Like after hitting send on an email by mistake).

18. WOOFS: Well-Off Older Folks.

In re: Relaxing

I'm just a is just a lazy, idle, lemon-poppy-seed muffin lovin' iripino today.  I could really use some warm weather and surfing right now and just hanging out for about 10 days or so.  Awhhhh (relaxed, refreshing awhhhh).

Via EfrankE on Flicker

I Hate Being "Pregnant"

I can't explain what happened last night.  Well, I can, but that would be no fun.  You'll have to see me to find out what happened on the Wednesday night pub crawl that started at Silvertone, landed us at Beantown, and eventually, well, see the 12:15AM post.  Somewhere in between, we actually watched American Idol, too.  Maybe that's where I decided to throw in the towel and get wasted!

I have to proclaim: I'm really not used to going out on weeknights anymore.  I never thought I'd say that, but I guess, I guess I actually am having a mature relationship with alcohol now.  There's another explanation, though: after law school, I let the lame gene kick in and would chronically miss happy hour, intentionally, unintentionally, even sometimes against my will.  I replaced Men's Club at Sully's with Pirate's Booty and Grey's Anatomy.  I swapped Hong Kong and teriyaki strips with Boston Sports Club and MetRX protein shakes. 

Anyway, last night was crazy beyond all imaginable proportions.  Lots of drama went down.  I can tell you that the next 18 months will be lots of fun.  It's funny how the scenic view at bars gets better with alcohol, along with my propensity to just keep on talking, keep on playing, keep on drinking.  Let's use facebook and people's wall posts from facebook to tell a story:

[Pediatric Resident] wrote
at 12:15am on January 17th, 2008

Why aren't you at cluib cafea wit us! Me and [Rum-n-Cokes] miss yous!

[fluffy] wrote
at 10:28am on January 17th, 2008

umm... life = terrifying right now

[60657] wrote
at 10:30am on January 17th, 2008

just got your message....lol.  thanks for the b-day wishes.  :)  how you feelin this morning?  =p

[60657] wrote
at 10:31am on January 17th, 2008

lol....i love the message on [Pediatric Resident]'s wall. 
drink some gatorade, [fluffy].  =p

[Pediatric Resident] wrote
at 11:14am on January 17th, 2008

thank god for apple juice!
 

[Pediatric Resident] wrote
at 11:20am on January 17th, 2008

you mean you're not pregnant too?

[Rum-n-Cokes] wrote
at 4:56pm on January 17th, 2008

morning sickness sucks

[Pediatric Resident] wrote
at 6:02pm on January 17th, 2008

The fetus kicking inside of me is making me sick, clearly...

The Bad Gift Emporium

We had the "bad gift" raffle at work today.  Basically, everyone brings in gifts that they did not particularly like receiving over the Christmas/holiday season, and it gets raffled off for charity. I ended up with Goldie Retriever from Kits n' Kaboodle.  Now, I never win anything.  How timely it is that I end up winning a microwaveable neck wrap.  Jess and I are bound to have fun freaking each other out with this thing as we watch House and Grey's.  Here's what this thing can help me out with

- Cramps
- Neck and Shoulder Ache
- Hand Pain
- Migraine(frozen)
- Hot Flashes(frozen)
- Engorged Breasts

I have problems with the last one.  Procrastination.  See
http://www.badgiftemporium.com/

In re: "Boston's Lame"

Another night out with the K-Rome (not to be confused with K-Ro), a/k/a "Keesha," and more "Hey Girl Hey" rattling through my head than my head can handle.  Dallas lost and the Giants won.  The Pats won... again.  There's a snowstorm... again, but it was a sucky and lame snow storm at best up here in Boston.  Anyway, while I'm feeling the heat of "morning sickness" because I'm "pregnant," I totally forgot what I was going to say (aside that I am not looking forward to shoveling my driveway when I get home tonight).  So here, enjoy (via urban dictionary):

1:Hey girl hey
2:Heyyy, what's up?
1:Nothing much
2:That's cool
1:Hey girl hey, I'm gonna go... HEY GIRL HEYYY

America Runs on Dunkin (Round 3 starts now)

My mouth can't form these words...

So I totally got screwed out of Patriots' tickets.  I totally got screwed out of a Christmas grab present.  And I totally got screwed out of a free coffee at Dunkin Donuts.  But I can't hate on the last one, and it won't make it to the Bitch List compilation that will come out at the end of 2008. 

Between my undying loyalty to Dunkins and my unfettered love for Dunkin's commercials [like  Bleachers ("I'm freezing at peewee hockey"), or Fritalian ("My mouth can't form these words"), and yes, all tracked to They Must Be Giants courtesy of Hill Holiday] and the entire "America Runs on Dunkin advertising campaign," I come upon upon an epi[/MESSAGE CLIPPED/]

Are They Might Be Giants 'freezing at Pee Wee hockey?' We're pretty sure. [via: AdvertisingAge]

When you have a "I Hate My Job" day... Try out an Urban Legend

My little buddy K-Ro down in NYC sensed that I, we, me (among others) were having the "we're 26 and having the January blues... boy, only being able to afford Natty Lite seems like a great position in which to be" mode.  So, what I better suggestion than to try an urban legend and see if it works:

On your way home from work, stop at your pharmacy and go to the thermometer section and purchase a rectal thermometer made by Johnson & Johnson.  Be very sure you get this brand. When you get home, lock your doors, draw the curtains and disconnect the phone so you will not be disturbed.

Change into very comfortable clothing and sit in your favorite chair. Open the package and remove the thermometer. Now, carefully place it on a table or a surface so that it will not become chipped or broken.Now the fun part begins Take out the literature from the box and read it carefully.

You will notice that in small print there is a statement:"Every Rectal Thermometer made by Johnson & Johnson is personally tested and then sanitized."  Now, close your eyes and repeat out loud five times, "I am so glad I do not work in the thermometer quality control department at Johnson & Johnson."

"Have a nice day and remember, there is always someone else with a job that is more of a pain in the ass than yours!"  '

Ok, that was cheesy.  But it's the weekend, kinda, sorta!

The Bitch List

Reason to Bitch #1: I definitely was not planning on staying at work this late.  But whatever, I should be happy I have a job, right?

Reason to Bitch #2: I still can't hold down food.  Uughhh.  I am hungry and tired, and did I mention, yeah, I was at work way longer than I want to be tonight.

Reason to Bitch #3: Weddings. Weddings. And more weddings. Everyone's getting married, and I should be happy, but people, wtf is going on? Everyone's getting married in 2008! There's only so many weekends in a year!

Reason to Bitch #4: I never got to go to New Hampshahhh.  Booo.  Oh, and did I mention, yeah, I was totally at work for 17 hours today.  And I'm tired.  And I'm hungry.

Reason to Bitch $5: Having "a mind conservative and a heart liberal." Unfortunately, that typifies me... and that person... word.

This is Why I'm Hot

No, I'm not the rapper Mims.  But it seems like the second Kevin got to Boston, things started to get all hot up up around here in New England.  Now, I'm used to a nice little thaw at the end of January (or was reminded of it by Kevin Lemanowicz, Chief Meteorologist at Fox 25 News), but this is kind of crazy.  When I was hanging out with Kevin in the South End, I was out and about in a sweatshirt and jeans.  It's January people.  It's supposed to be wicked wicked cold in Boston right about now!  I should not be wearing crocks without socks!

Then, there's the New Hampshire primaries.  My near and dear friend Crystal is working the Obama campaign up in New Hampshahhh, and my near and dear friend Shane is working the Romney campaign, so I feel like, between Facebook and random text messages and spur of the moment blog updates, I'm right up there in the middle of the action.  The whole presidential campaign thing continues to get me all excited this year.  Perhaps the reason happens to be that both parties -- Democrats and Republicans -- don't have a clear front runner yet.  Perhaps the reason happens to be that each of the candidates, regardless of the party affiliation, happens to have a some sort of depth, a whole lot of quirks, and a bit of admirable conviction.  Perhaps the reason happens to be that I'm stuck somewhere in between Obama and Mitt (but people know where I'll be voting), somewhere between hopeful and jaded, somewhere between being really young and naive and getting old and stuck and stubborn in my ways.  Whatever the reason, things continue to stir up in New Hampshire.  Politics are getting fun again.  And the commercials -- yes, because Boston is right on the cusp on New Hampshire, we get all of the crazy pitches from each of the candidates, trying to woo voters between segments of a really lopsided LSU/Ohio State game (go Buckeyes!), the rebirth of American Gladiators (Go Helga!), and yet another rerun of How I Met Your Mother (Go... Go) [/ALT LINK/CBS Corporation site].

Anyway, I'm not quite sure where this post is going, except that it's January 2008 and I didn't even get a chance to wear my reindeer winter hat to work today.  The snowmen are melting.  And I'm feeling all hot and bothered about everything going on...

 

The Evidencing Life

12 July 2006

Day one, post-BarBri, regimented studying.  Did my first blotch of Evidence review using Study Smart, and let me just give a shout out to the BarBri-Thompson/West monopoly for essentially helping my dumb ass really get this stuff.  Study Smart is wicked awesome... I highly recommend it, especially if you think that you've been NIEDing or IIEDing yourself with PMBR questions. 

While we're at it, looks like I'm primed to be moving in August.  And my family won't be around to bid me farewell.  Peoples going away (taking JetBlue) and such.  Oh well.  They never liked me anyway (lol).

Finally, a joke, sent from our beloved friend e-Co.  I wanted to mass email it to everyone.  Instead, I blog it.

Here we go...

An 80-year-old man goes for a physical. All of his tests come back with normal results. The doctor says, "George, everything looks great. How are you doing mentally and emotionally?

Are you at peace with God?"

George replies, "God and I are tight. He knows I have poor eyesight, so he's fixed it so when I get up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom, poof! the light goes on. When I'm done, poof! the light goes off."

"Wow, that's incredible," the doctor says.

A little later in the day, the doctor calls George's wife. "Ethel." He says, "George is doing fine... But I had to call you because I'm in awe of his relationship with God. Is it true that he gets up during the night and poof! the light goes on in the bathroom, and when he's done, poof! the light goes off?"

Ethel shouts, "Good God almighty! He's peein' in the fridge again!"

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.

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].

Yuletide Sightings Take ___

I do have beautiful friends, in particular, S & J, who are not only beautiful looking, but are among the nicest (and funniest) folks I know.  Good people do survive law school, folks.  S & J are among the bunch who have not turned into spiteful, corporate a-hole attorneys who have sold out on the public interest and now only help the private good.  Oh wait, let me not speak too fast... that's me!  The couple of honor:

Awww, how cute.  Now, Sonya & James were really cool and savvy about their engagement party.  No gifts; the gift of our presence was enough for them (awww).  And lo!  Engagement party = Christmas party (awww sweet!).  Now how about that?  It meant only one thing: I could leave the firm early (7:30pm) and stop billing on a Friday night and instead, have me some fun!

Ok, I might have broken off a piece of the gingerbread house.  After all, the house was there to be eaten by humans like... me!  Then, of course, the rest of the boys annihilate the rest of the house.  How's the trouble maker?  Of course, me...

Finally, what's a party if I'm not hanging out with all of the girls at some point or another? Honest to gawd, I was not intruding in this picture! Colleen and Simone wanted me there, I swear!!

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/]

Sunset in the East of Eastern Time

Remember back in the beginning of the summer, when I was really bitter because I was at work all the time, so I wished upon the world for winter to come? [See: Bitter]  Well, now it is the end of August, and I take those words back. 

I know spent most of my summer in an office.  So, it's kind of sad to see that, now that things are a bit normal at work, that the sun is setting at about 7:20 these days.  With the way time works here in New England, we're so close to Atlantic Time that damned Eastern Time brings about darkness at 4:10 come December.  I never win.

So I say, boo to that.  I think I'm going to have to go to Rio de Janeiro come January or Mid-February.  Winter time, 90 degrees, Brazil.  If you want in, let me know... Looks like I need to start working out so that I'm beach ready by then! 

Dog Days of Summer

What a better way to ponder the dog days of summer than a slowdown at work, some weird coastal coolness (try highs in the mid-60s in Boston), and a nice little roommate field trip to the Pub 99.  The last rommate field trip that we had resulted in a total buy-in on Smirnoff's P-Unit advertising gig for Raw Tea.  This one?  Nice full belly filled with hamburgers, french fries, and toasted raviolis.  And now, I totally want to "take a nap"... until tomorrow.  The thing is, the Real World Sydney is on demand.  The drama is too good to pass over.  Drama.  Dog days of summer.  It doesn't get any better than this...

Tales from Friends Getting Married

From mi amiga Veronica (via mi roomie, Jess):

Three weeks before the wedding and on four hours of sleep. I managed to set fire to a bagel in the cafeteria and evacuate the whole building. I had three firemen trying to comfort me while I cried. One offered his friend to strip at the bachelorette party.

I’ve done a lot for before 9am on a Monday.

I know already that this one is going to be a wicked awesome wedding...