I think I used to be an interesting person but now I think I’m boring.
It seems, over the past few years, that I’ve become much more bland. All the things I used to have the time and energy for seem to have fallen by the wayside. I still think they’re cool…but apparently not enough to become involved in them again.
Let’s take modeling for instance…no, not that kind of modeling. Like models of cars, planes, tanks, spaceships…that kind of modeling. I used to be good for at least several decent models a year and now the thought of setting up a space required and the amount of time and work involved in actually assembling and painting the model makes me run for the couch. I’ve got an AWESOME $250.00 model of the NX-01 from the Star Trek series Enterprise…I’ve even got a lighting kit for it. Check out the still of someone else making the model…doesn’t it look cool? It’s in my downstairs closet, still in the box.
But it’s not just models…it’s making music, actually collecting comics, it’s playing football in an afternoon league, acting on stage…it’s a bunch of things. Is it because I’m getting older and thusly less active?
I just don’t want to become boring but I think it’s too late. Apparently I bore myself. Perhaps this is simply the beginning of a midlife crisis and a tattoo or something will take care of it. I’m not unhappy, in fact it’s quite the contrary…I guess I just miss doing some of the things I find fun.
So, this weekend I’ll reinvest myself into one of my old hobbies. Perhaps I’ll start small…maybe a rocket launch, or a snap-tite…hehe. Maybe a tart, or perhaps something else baked…maybe I’ll social engineer my way into a NOC somewhere. I’ve just got to do SOMETHING!
This past weekend we went to Philadelphia to see Pearl Jam and the concert was great. I’m not a fan of Philadelphia, but that’s ANOTHER post, but I’ve got the say the Centrum wasn’t a terrible place to see a band. It reminded me a lot of the old Boston Garden, which was more intimate, if such a word could be used for an arena. I was MOST impressed with the seat cushions which were very comfortable…for the 20 mins I sat on it waiting for PJ.
I’m glad PJ decided to punch me in the face on the first song with “Gonna See My Friend.” I’ve been to a ton of shows where they start out with “Release” or another slower song that takes time to build. That night PJ was coming out fighting and I was glad to be the punching bag. There were several really nice highlights during the first set including “Tremor Christ” ,”Habit”,”Present Tense” and two personal favorites “In Hiding” and “Untitled.”
The second encore started slowly and included a mix from several different, older albums ending with a rousing “RVM.” Good stuff. The second set ended precisely at 11pm, which for a moment made me think the show was over, but when the lights didn’t come up I knew they had another set in them. The last set was a doozy starting with “Whipping” leading into lovely and haunting “Crazy Mary.” Two of my most memorable concert experiences happened during the playing of “Crazy Mary.” One was in Mansfield, Ma. on Sept. 14th, 1998 and then at the Boston Garden on May 24th 2006…both concerts were amazing and both of those crowds had a connection to the band and the music they were playing…everyone was singing and it made for a memorable moment that sticks with me even now.
During this concert I don’t think the crowd hit that peak…but they were Philadelphians.
Again PJ graced up with the mamasan trilogy…which means we heard “Footsteps!” They ended the show with two great songs in Sonic Reducer and Baba O’Riley…which I’m sure most of the kids at the show thought was the song from CSI. Oh, and the opening band was pretty decent. Bad Religion opened for Pearl Jam and they were pretty good. Like many Americans I’ve heard of Bad Religion but I couldn’t name an album or a song they’ve written…but they did a fair job. It can’t be easy opening for the best band on the planet.
Here are some other higher-quality videos from that show.
Finally, I’ve got to say that what really made the concert special was my Sweets. If we had never met I’m sure we would still see Pearl Jam but it wouldn’t nearly mean as much to me as seeing it with her. You’re so special honey and I know we’re going to many more shows together!
Did I say that I need you?
Did I say that I want you?
Aww if I didn’t I’m a fool you see…no one knows this more than me.
As a huge fan of comics and an obsessive collector of several different book lines I’m excited and yet horrified by the possibilities for comics when the Apple Tablet launches. I really like the feeling of getting a new book in hand and paging through…looking at the sheen on the pages and the smell of the ink and paper mash wafting up takes me back. Am I ready to abandon my books forever? Am I to accept the digital versions saved to my hard drive as a collection worthy of the pride I have for my bagged, sealed, and graded copies of relatively rare books?
When I’m buying a line of books I always get 2 copies…one to read and one to bag immediately. Following a particular artist you like can provide hours of discovering new and interesting lines…or a great style or formatting choice. John Romita Sr. was my first real obsession The Amazing Spiderman series in particular. One of my two very favorite is his son John Romita Jr. and his work on Peter Parker: Spiderman and most recently Kick Ass which is being made into a movie. J. Scott Campbell is the other. This guy can flat out draw. He started on Gen13 was great and followed that up with my favorite series Dangergirl.
Great stuff…but could it be replaced by this new Apple device? My guess is no, but it’s a direction that the smaller book publisher are already heading and it’s incumbent on the big boys to step up to the digital plate in a substantial way. I could see new markets where the were none before because the device, or devices very similar, could be everywhere. The medium could finally meld the interwebs into the true connection it’s supposed to be. The iPhone took me a step closer to that complete integration but this device, well…it could be big.
A good article over at Gizmodo by Joel Johnson inspired this ramble…thanks man!
We’re heading the Philadelphia this weekend to see Pearl Jam and I’m quite excited. Our seats are in the front row of the first balcony to the left of the stage…we should have a FANTASTIC view. Hopefully we’ll be able to grab a tour poster as we’ve got quite the collection already, nicely framed, in our living room. My brother-in-law Johnny is going with a bunch of his friends and we’re going to have a blast!
Here’s a great 10 minute video “The making of Backspacer.”
Every time I see PJ it’s an experience…and I’m sure this time won’t be any different. I can’t express the feeling of the collected multitude all singing the same lyrics, sharing the same space and experiencing the same things…it’s magical and hard to understand unless you’re a PJ fan and been to their shows.
I’ve been much more contemplative recently and much less expressive lately. I’m not sure what it is that’s causing this, but I’m assuming that it’s just a phase as it is most of the time.
I’m trying to find a balance between exercise, work, casual time and my marriage. It’s tricky because if the balance is off it can take a while to realize it so I’m trying to be aware. Routines certainly help in that regard and I’m a routine kind of guy. So trying to get back to an active routine where I’m working out AND getting the proper amount of sleep is tricky and I’m in the middle of that now. For some reason my body only responds when I’m doing things absolutely right and I’ve not been 100% for a few months now.
I was really frustrated from my workouts prior to the wedding. I was consistently going everyday and doing a good 45 mins of heavy cardio and working out…but it didn’t manifest itself in weight loss (or fat loss). So that frustration is haunting me a bit now…but it’s also fueling me to make sure I only put what I NEED into my body. ”You will lose weight ONLY when you burn off more calories than you take in.” I need a nutritionist because when I eat fewer calories that I burn I eventually lose strength and become weak and tired…BAH!
On a different note, things at work are coming to a head. I’m sure that if my job were in jeopardy I’d get some indication but things are still chugging along. I’ve got to get my resume up to date though as I’ve let that slip. Oh, that reminds me…I’ve got to change my withholding information here at work. I’m going to do that now before I forget again!
Holy Crap…I can’t believe how long it’s been since I’ve posted.
I’ve been struggling with the exercise/dieting thing for the last two weeks. Trying to find a consistent rhythm is tougher than I anticipated and I’m unable to nail down a routine. Frustrating.
I know that life could be better for me when I’m 40lbs. overweight. BUGGER! Something has to change, for sure. I’m not sure what needs to change but I’m hoping to find out.
On a different note…
I’ve got a twitter account and rarely used it but I’ve discovered a cool and different use for twitter. Some of you may know that I’m a serious Trekkie and I’m currently obsessed with Twitter RP, specifically Enterprise based stuff. It’s really like a text based MMO. This is organized stuff with pretty decent story lines and great implementation. They’re a closed group and produce a LOT of content for their audience. Typically I stay away from fan fiction and other related stuff because it’s so far out of canon that it’s silly, but these guys and gals have rules and really pay attention to the details.
In other news…
The new Pearl Jam album, Backspacer, is out and AWESOME. I was in the process of writing an in depth review but can’t seem to find the file, so it’ll be late. Go get it and enjoy it anyway. I will say that it’s a great album and listens well. A worthy successor to the last few albums.
I’ve been playing Aion recently but it’s not scratched the gaming itch I can’t seem to get rid of. WoW, while a staple, hasn’t done if for me recently and I’be been hoping to find a game that commands my attention. I’ve been killing COD5 zombies for the last few months and need a fix. Still looking.
So I’m in a weird spot. I’m trying to figure why I’m motivated to be more physically active. For as much motivation as I had BEFORE the wedding I’m surprised that I’ve completely dropped things since.
Well, this morning I did my 45 mins. so I’ve got that under my belt. It’s funny building on progress because it doesn’t actually amount to anything until you’ve got something “under your belt.” It takes a commitment to understanding that the first 30 days don’t count for shit except to contribute to the habit of working out.
The problem is that it takes MORE than time. It takes monitoring food, portions and consumption, which is what I have the biggest problem with. When I lost weight previously I was living alone and able to strictly regulate what I ingested, but I’m finding it almost impossible when shopping and cooking for more than myself. I think that part of the problem is that both Sweets and I are decent cooks and we enjoy good food. Dinner and after dinner snacking is the big issue for me.
The secret may be portion control.
It’s hard to imagine that I can be filled by 3 oz. of beef, which is about the size of a deck of cards and considering 1 serving size. Can I actually sustain myself on one serving of cous cous which is only 1/2 a cup? That’s the real challenge for me. I’m told (and have experienced) that my body will adjust to the proper amounts of food and if I fuel myself wisely throughout the day I’ll be full and satisfied.
It wasn’t pretty. We were outplayed and outcoached. We weren’t able to make halftime adjustments and they did. I’m sure we’ll work on our problems and come back strong for the Falcons, who have a great team.
If I’m sounding like Bill Belichick it’s for a reason.
So I’m sitting here, on my couch, waiting breathlessly for the season to begin.
I usually perform several “rituals” for each season, and in turn, each game. There is no trace of OCD in my family and I don’t believe my rituals are of a classifiable nature but rather similar to those athletes have. The referee for the evening is Scott Green who officiated out 2nd Superbowl win. Tonight is also a “throwback” night and the teams are wearing the old jerseys, which I love.
In terms of the game tonight I’m looking for several things.
Will our defensive backfield gel? - We’ve got quite a few younger players and some vets who’ve never played an NFL down together. Having the right mix of players, talent and attitude will all the offense to blossom into more than Brady/Welker, Brady/Welker, Brady Moss, Touchdown. Of course, a TD is a TD and a win is a win but I like balance.
What is our offensive backfield going to look like? All of our backs play a different style and I’m curious to see who our offensive line works best with. We’ll always have theFaulk draws and screens but a back should emerge to give us some N/S yardage. It’s Maroney’s time and I expect we’ll know by the end of the 2nd game if he’s going to emerge.
How does the loss of Seymour affect the chemistry of the front line. Will the flirtation with a 4-3 in the preseason become a defining trend for this team? Seeing as Sey was a pass rusher and sat out most most run schemes the loss of impact shouldn’t be as visible as the loss of leadership.
Was keeping Joey Galloway a smart move? There were younger and more active players in training camp and I wasn’t impressed by him when he was on the field.
I also want to see a swagger. I like when my players play confidently…and this group could be as good as 2 years ago
I don’t expect much from the Bills due to the fact that, well…they’re the Bills. The media-whore receiver who shall remain nameless could be mildly entertaining as he competes with the “real 81” all night. Looking to the rest of the schedule I’m thrilled to see some great contests but I don’t believe tonight will be one of them.
It’s so nice to revisit this area of the world after so many years. In the Coast Guard I had a chance to visit the Caribbean quite a bit, but never to Aruba. The water is amazingly warm and the weather hasn’t changed since we’ve been here…it’s been 93 degrees and sunny. What a paradise, but I’m glad that I live in New England where we see all the seasons…I’d imagine 365 days of this weather would be tough. It’s so nice because, for us, it’s NOT like this 365, which makes it even more enjoyable.
The first few days have been pretty low key. We’ve just been drifting in the lazy river and the ocean. Today is the first “event” day and we’re snorkeling several wrecks around the island, which should prove to be fun. I’m a little disappointed that I didn’t think to get contact lenses so I won’t see much, but whatever…it’ll be fun. There is an open bar on the ship we’re sailing on but I think snorkeling and hard liquor are a tricky mix…we’ll see. I spent the first 2 days with a long island iced tea in my hand, which was fun…but ultimately expensive and unsettling to the stomach so the last 2 days have been alcohol free.
I’ll be posting photos throughout the week on Facebook so check them out.
On a different note I’ve found it difficult to NOT think about work. We’re launching a new device today and I feel like I should be there and I’m worried that things will be tough for the people covering for me.
Well…off to snorkel. I’ll report on that when we get back.
BON DIA!
I’ve had trouble recently sharing myself here. Not “trouble” in the sense of not being able to think of things to write, but in the sense of gathering and focusing my thoughts. So much has happened in my life recently and it’s been a lot to take in. It’s hard enough for me to sort everything out in my head, much less write about it in a coherent way.
I’m just so very lucky.
It’s as simple as that.
Sometimes it’s hard for me to see how much people care for me…or allow them to care for me. I’ve never been a very social person and I, unknowingly, try to keep people at arm’s length. Despite my efforts it seems that people genuinely care about me and it’s time I recognize that and I’m going to do my best to show those people that they matter to me.
I want to thank all of my friends and all the people that love me! I love you too!
It’s hard to believe it’s been so long since I’ve posted! Lot’s of changes afoot!
I’ve gotten married over the past weekend and it was a great time. All that worrying and anxiety over something that was only HOURS long seems silly now. I know that the anxiety wasn’t ONLY about the actual event, but I’m glad we’re finally married. Now I get to enjoy the rest of my life…I can focus on other things and my brain is happy. Both Jean and I took days to recover from the physical and mental stress we endured.
We’ll be heading to Aruba on the 5th of next month and I’m looking forward to that. I’ve read there is something called the “Lazy River” around the hotel and there are BARS along this large, circuitous, man-made watering hole. I’ll be innertube-bound for MUCH of the time. I’m psyched that I’m not working out until I get back!!!
The honeymoon doesn’t start until the weekend of the 5th so I’ll surely post some of the stories, experiences and anecdotes I’ve collected over the past week, and there are a few of them.
WBCN goes off the air in less than 15 minutes for good. It’s shocking that such an iconic radio station is going to be put down like a lame horse. It could still survive, but it will never regain the glory it once had as Boston’s premier concert network. I say that this is a reflection of the fact that rock music is, if not dead, no longer a viable radio format just like Polka became in the 60’s. I can’t really say that ‘BCN hasn’t suffered in the last 10 years and it became almost untenable. From bad DJ’s to questionable music that was anything BUT rock, it was hard for BCN to maintain it’s “Rock of Boston” status.
Sure, there’s WAAF, but that’s like a mallet to the head instead of scratching my musical itch. WBCN has really been the main rock station in this region for decades and now there is only 1. I suppose it’s silly to bemoan the loss of a terrestrial FM station when I can continue to listen to the digitized version online. I guess it’s not the same.
Bradley J is playing Pink Floyd’s “Shine on you crazy diamond” as the last song. What a great tune! (He’s playing it from an iPhone…I just heard the “mail” sound over the radio…no shit). They’re playing a DJ montage from the decades past…almost 60 seconds. Nice.
From the dulcet tones of Floyd to static…just like that.
Not THAT kind of smoking, I quit 2 years ago and hopefully will never start again. I’m referring to the smoking of meat, be it pork or beef. There are some great plans for offset smokers but I think I’d like to make a double barrel smoker like this one to the right. I’m not even familiar with the basics, which I’m sure are most important. Things like wood choice, temperature, time, cuts of meat, rubs and sauces…all balance together to make the best eats possible. The other thing I’ll need is a place to keep it…I don’t think Sweets is going to give up precious garage space.
It seems like a ton of fun to concoct a “special” recipe, perfect it and compete with it. I imagine traveling to competitions would be a great way to see the states and eat a lot of food. A great way to retire. I’ve still got 25 years or so until I stop working, so I’ve got some time to work on that recipe. I hope this doesn’t mean I need to grow a handlebar mustache and get one of those singing bass fish. I’d love to know if any of my friends are “Smokers!”
I’m working out and burning 1,000+ calories a day but still eating like crap.
I keep logging into WoW and immediately wanting to log out, which I do, and then kill Nazi Zombies for 10 minutes and start the process over again.
I’ve not felt like reading even though I’ve got several things I’ve set aside to read.
I’ve got to get gifts for Alex and Jim, which I’ve done. I’m just not happy with either purchase.
The tuxedo rental place has horrible customer service and I’ll never use them again.
I’m swallowing more gum than ever. Chewing gum is my substitute for smoking and you would think I could control when I swallow my gum. Problem is…I only realize it after I’ve swallowed the gum.
I want to game more, but my crappy laptop can’t play them.
Ok, I’m officially getting nervous. We’re talking short time now…less than 3 weeks. 19 days from now I’ll be getting ready to be married, unbelievable!
I’m not sure why it turns into “nervousness.” I’m excited for sure…but still nervous. There is something in my psyche that puts a pit into my stomach when I think of all I have to do that day, wondering how it will go, if my friends will have a good time, worrying about the dances I’m supposed to do with absolutely no training…it’s nerve-wracking. While we do have the basics covered, money is also a big concern of mine. Between new glasses, Tuxedos, gifts for the wedding party, and other assorted things will I have enough to cover all I need to cover? Will I have enough for tips, sundries and the honeymoon?
Dancing…that’s another biggie. I’m supposed to dance during this
event and I’m no dancer…I don’t even enjoy it unless I’m being silly…and then it’s only to get a laugh. I’m a horrible speaker and yet I’ll need to do a fair amount of speaking that day. Everything we’ve done was to work towards this upcoming day. I feel like we’ve got so much more to do in that little amount of time.
This isn’t an official “freak-out.” I’m actually pretty cool under pressure most of the time but this wedding stuff is different. The closest feeling I could equate this was in high school in the weeks leading up to doing a solo in front of the whole school. I got this very same feeling in my gut. If there’s a lesson to be learned from that experience is that once the event actually begins it’s not as tough as I imagined.
I know when it’s over I’ll breath a sigh of relief. Firstly because Sweets will finally be my wife. Secondly because I can look BACK on this event in happiness instead of looking forward to it nervously.
I’m sure it will be fine and everything will fall into place the way it’s supposed to. I’m really looking forward to spending our honeymoon together…a great way to relax after planning this huge party.
Interestingly enough I don’t feel older than I did when I was 20. Sure,
I’m not as limber, or quick perhaps, but what I’ve lost in twitch response I’ve gained in experience. It’s easier to deal with life at 40 than at any other point so far and that’s pretty decent. I suppose that 40 is halfway through life right? I probably won’t live much past 80 so that means that my time remaining is LESS than the time I’ve spent here. Ok, that’s a little depressing…but no fear! I’m going to make sure the last 40 are MUCH more fun than the first.
I had a great day on my Birthday. Jean gave me a hand signed Tedy Bruschi poster of his 2005 S.I. cover. It’s AWESOME and gorgeously matted. We then went to Battleship Cove in Fall River, which was great fun. We finished the evening with a nice steak dinner, which I could never argue with. Oh, and there was a Carvel cake eating contest when we got home…guess who won that? Sweets went out of her way to make sure it was a fun day for me, and it certainly was. It couldn’t have been better.
I put together a little video talking about turning 40. It was going to be edited with a voiceover, photos, music etc…but I’ve yet to become competent with my new video editing software. That will come soon.
So the world is on notice…I’m officially entering mid-life and I’m due for a crisis. I don’t have enough money for a Porche convertible (yet) and I can’t see myself becoming a playboy, or becoming an MMA fighter but I’ll think of something!
Thanks to EVERYONE who made the past 40 years bearable and my apologies to everyone I’ve inflicted myself upon. I love you all!
I'm usually listening to music.
When I write entries in this web-log-diary-confessional-cathartic collection of 1's and 0's you can be sure I'm listening to music.
Check below the post to see what music I was listening to when I wrote that specific entry...and if possible load up that old MP3 player or hop on Youtube and listen to that song(s) while you're reading.
Then we'll be in the same state of mind while you read.
=)
This past weekend we went to Philadelphia to see Pearl Jam and 
I’m glad PJ decided to punch me in the face on the first song with “Gonna See My Friend.” I’ve been to a ton of shows where they start out with “Release” or another slower song that takes time to build. That night PJ was coming out fighting and I was glad to be the punching bag. There were several really nice highlights during the first set including “
The second encore started slowly and included a mix from several different, older albums ending with a rousing “RVM.” Good stuff. The second set ended precisely at 11pm, which for a moment made me think the show was over, but when the lights didn’t come up I knew they had another set in them. The last set was a doozy starting with “Whipping” leading into lovely and haunting “Crazy Mary.” Two of my most memorable concert experiences happened during the playing of “Crazy Mary.” One was in Mansfield, Ma. on Sept. 14th, 1998 and then at the Boston Garden on May 24th 2006…both concerts were amazing and both of those crowds had a connection to the band and the music they were playing…everyone was singing and it made for a memorable moment that sticks with me even now.
During this concert I don’t think the crowd hit that peak…but they were Philadelphians.
As a huge fan of comics and an obsessive collector of several different book lines I’m excited and yet horrified by the possibilities for comics when the Apple Tablet launches. I really like the feeling of getting a new book in hand and paging through…looking at the sheen on the pages and the smell of the ink and paper mash wafting up takes me back. Am I ready to abandon my books forever? Am I to accept the digital versions saved to my hard drive as a collection worthy of the pride I have for my bagged, sealed, and graded copies of relatively rare books?
When I’m buying a line of books I always get 2 copies…one to read and one to bag immediately. Following a particular artist you like can provide hours of discovering new and interesting lines…or a great style or formatting choice. John Romita Sr. was my first real obsession 
We’re heading the Philadelphia this weekend to see 
I’ve got a twitter account and rarely used it but I’ve discovered a cool and different use for twitter. Some of you may know that I’m a serious Trekkie and I’m currently obsessed with Twitter RP, specifically 
The new Pearl Jam album, 
I’ve had trouble recently sharing myself here. Not “trouble” in the sense of not being able to think of things to write, but in the sense of gathering and focusing my thoughts. So much has happened in my life recently and it’s been a lot to take in. It’s hard enough for me to sort everything out in my head, much less write about it in a coherent way.
I’ve gotten married over the past weekend and it was a great time. All that worrying and anxiety over something that was only HOURS long seems silly now. I know that the anxiety wasn’t ONLY about the actual event, but I’m glad we’re finally married. Now I get to enjoy the rest of my life…I can focus on other things and my brain is happy. Both Jean and I took days to recover from the physical and mental stress we endured.
WBCN goes off the air in less than 15 minutes for good. It’s shocking that such an iconic radio station is going to be put down like a lame horse. It could still survive, but it will never regain the glory it once had as Boston’s premier concert network. I say that this is a reflection of the fact that rock music is, if not dead, no longer a viable radio format just like Polka became in the 60’s. I can’t really say that ‘BCN hasn’t suffered in the last 10 years and it became almost untenable. From bad DJ’s to questionable music that was anything BUT rock, it was hard for BCN to maintain it’s “Rock of Boston” status.
Not THAT kind of smoking, I quit 2 years ago and hopefully will never start again. I’m referring to the smoking of meat, be it pork or beef. There are some 
event and I’m no dancer…I don’t even enjoy it unless I’m being silly…and then it’s only to get a laugh. I’m a horrible speaker and yet I’ll need to do a fair amount of speaking that day. Everything we’ve done was to work towards this upcoming day. I feel like we’ve got so much more to do in that little amount of time.
I’m not as limber, or quick perhaps, but what I’ve lost in twitch response I’ve gained in experience. It’s easier to deal with life at 40 than at any other point so far and that’s pretty decent. I suppose that 40 is halfway through life right? I probably won’t live much past 80 so that means that my time remaining is LESS than the time I’ve spent here. Ok, that’s a little depressing…but no fear! I’m going to make sure the last 40 are MUCH more fun than the first.
I had a great day on my Birthday. Jean gave me a hand signed Tedy Bruschi poster of his 2005 S.I. cover. It’s AWESOME and gorgeously matted. We then went to Battleship Cove in Fall River, which was great fun. We finished the evening with a nice steak dinner, which I could never argue with. Oh, and there was a Carvel cake eating contest when we got home…guess who won that? Sweets went out of her way to make sure it was a fun day for me, and it certainly was. It couldn’t have been better.