Note to the Red Sox

You have to stop winning like this.  You're killing me.

The Yuppie Factor

The Celtics are playing in 2 hours.  The playoff series is tied at 2 a piece.  The games they played in Atlanta were pretty much atrocious, in both their play, and the officiating (or lack thereof).  Anyway, the Celtics, like any successful Boston team have their following back.  They call us fair weather fans if we don't line up to buy tickets to see a 24 win team, but honestly, if I were an Ice Cream man, and I only had the worst kind of ice cream you probably wouldn't come buy it from me would you.  But as soon as I got 56 flavors people would line up.  The whole fair weather fan issue bothers me to some extent, but honestly, if you want us to show up, win.  It's really simple.  Especially in this town.  I can remember going to Fenway Park in 2001 and walking up to the box office and getting grand stand seats for any game I wanted.  Today, you have to win a raffle to win "the chance" to spend $200 on 4 seats in the grandstand.  Now, I love that the Red Sox are successful, but what I don't love are the yuppie a-holes who have taken over Fenway.  It used to be the park with the highest collective baseball IQ from a fan perspective in the league, but now its full of suit wearing dip$h1ts who tell you to sit down when you stand up cheer.  I was sitting behind home plate (no, i don't have season tickets or corporate seats, I pretty much got lucky) and without going into to much detail about what was going on in the game, lets just say it was a big moment, so I stood, and tried to show my support for the team.  Not 4 seconds later the 30 something behind me asked if I would sit.  Now, that was pretty bad, but what was worse was that I realized that my friends and I were the only ones this side of first base that realized now was the time to stand up and make noise.  The bleacher creatures knew.  They were all screaming their heads off.  But the rich,  fair weather, "I never went to Fenway Park before 2004 but now I have great seats" sticks in the mud behind home plate sat silently on their hands because they didn't have a CLUE what was going on in the game.  I reluctantly sat in the interest of not getting thrown out of the seat I just paid $95 for and the moment passed without the Sox getting what they needed.  Then, in the very next inning (the 9th) Jonathan Papelbon comes into the game...in a NON-SAVE SITUATION, meaning the Sox were losing, and wouldn't you know it, all of those rich $hits stood and cheered....because they recognized the name I would guess.  It is a travesty what has happened to Fenway Park.  Selfishly, I hope the Sox have a couple if rebuilding years so I can get to the ballpark more than twice a year...I can't be the only one...

The Slings and Arrows of Single Life

Ok, I just wrote and re-read this post, and honestly it comes off horribly.  But I am going to post it, unedited.  Please tell me what you think:

-Nick

So, I'm recently single.  It's a rarity for me, as for most of my adult life I've been in a serious relationship (two if you must know).  I'm not enjoying my single life all that much for a number of reasons.  Obviously, since my failed relationship is relatively recent, I am lonely.  I feel this incessant need to be with someone.  Anyone.  Quite frankly it makes me feel weak.

Now, I'm a good looking guy I guess.  I've never really had problems getting girls to date.  I'd like to think they're more interested in my mind than strictly what I look like, but I can understand that physical attraction is important.  However, it seems that in this day and age what is more important is what kind of car you drive, how much money you make and what part of town you live in.  I shouldn't complain.  I have a job that pays me well, a nice car, and a good place to live, but I don't want that to be what is important.  There is so much more to every person than that.  It is important to me that a woman is well employed (well paid has nothing to do with being well employed) because that denotes intelligence and motivation.  It has nothing to do with the money they make.  I make enough to take care of myself.  To me it is about who you are, where you've been and where you want to go in your life.  Obviously physical attraction has its value, but, quite frankly, it is not my number one priority.  

Girls, if any actually ever read this blog, I have a few questions to ask, and the answers would be greatly appreciated by myself, and other readers I am sure.

First, it seems to me that being portrayed as the victim of unfair idealist stereotyping (i.e. blonde, blue eyes, skinny, long legs...etc.) is a card that is played quite often without the slightest hint of irony.  Now don't get me wrong, there are insane pressures put on women in modern times, but are you under the impression that men are not put under similar scrutiny?  When you see a bald fat man in a bar making eye contact I doubt you go running to give him your phone number, so why are guys "pigs" when we are attracted to attractive women?  Would you think twice about dating that good looking guy if he worked at a McDonalds and drove a '76 Chevette?  I think you would.  I just feel as though there is a bit of a double standard being played here.

Second, why are women in relationships always so needlessly concerned?  If I live with you, and I'm coming home to you, why do you feel the need to interrogate me about what I did, where I did it and with whom I did everything that I do?  Why is there always the inherent need for conflict that does not exist?  No, there is nothing wrong.  No, there is nothing wrong.  Yes, there is something wrong, you're asking me what is wrong all the time!

I apologize if these questions seem like they're coming from a guy recently out of a relationship, but alas that is all that I am.  I am not bitter at all, I am really interested in getting insight into this, as I have trouble comprehending.  I'm not a cheater, never have been.  Never even considered it.  But by the way I've been treated by girlfriends in the past you'd think I was a philandering hussy on the order of Wilt Chamberlain.  It is exhausting to be constantly answering questions like an inmate with little or no provocation.

I'm not perfect.  I'm far from it I promise you.  My last relationship ended because I didn't have the patience to deal with what were legitimate issues that my girlfriend had.  I'm not proud of that, in fact I'm disappointed that I couldn't be better for her.  A beautiful and wonderful girl that I've met since said she doesn't want a relationship with me, and gave the obligatory "its not you its me" after 3 dates that, honestly, I thought went very well.

It is the human curse to so much love someone you so seldom understand.  That is not a quote (that I know of)  that is how every relationship I've ever had can be summed up.

Opening Statements

Hello Cyberspace.

I guess I'm a blogger now?  No, thats not right, I think if I were blogging for years and some random upstart wrote 1 entry and called himself a blogger I would take offense.  At any rate, I guess a pseudo mission statement would be a good place to start no?  Well, let me see if I can come up with something clever/deep/humorous.

The point of this blog is being a place where I can get my thoughts on "paper".  I'm an engineer by trade, but a writer deep down.  I always have been.  The things covered will vary greatly, from sports, music and entertainment to social commentary (you're excited, you know it) and personal commentary.  Feedback is much appreciated, though people who just want to write harsh B.S. without anything to back it up should just move on.  I will try to be as studious as possible in updating, with an optimistic minimum of one entry per week, but hopefully much more.  I hope my blog can turn into a place where people can have Athenian and academic conversations on everything.  No voice will be muted for disagreement, though keeping the dialogue civil will be required.

I hope you enjoy.

-Nick