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| It's That Time Of Year....It was a long cold winter. Thanksgiving came and went as well as Christmas and a new year. My mom's birthday passed (she turned 25  ) while I turned 20. I also got my first tattoo which was a memorable yet slightly painful experience. So it was a fun winter but nothing I will miss.
Now, the winter is coming to an end and that can only mean good things. There are obvious things to look forward to, particularly the warm weather. Who doesn't enjoy not having to check the weather to see how many layers to put on? Life is so much easier when the weather is nice. Being able to go into the city with friends and not having a plan is possible because it's not freezing outside. Taking a walk to the store seems more indulging than dreadful. Life seems to exist in the world because people are out and about embracing the warmth of the sun instead of underneath the covers in their bed hiding from the gnawing of the frigid cold. Trips to the beach, picnics in the park and outdoor sports are all in full effect. These are the obvious reasons people enjoy the spring and summer, but as much as I enjoy these things as well, it is not the main reason why I look forward to the spring/summer.
See the underlying reason as to why I get giddy with excitement around the second half of February is the same reason my summers are always that much sweeter, baseball is coming. Now it may not seem that big of a deal for some but baseball is my passion. Although on the surface people may think that basketball is where my heart is, it could never do what baseball does for me. See the game of baseball brings so much more, for me at least, then any other sport out there. Maybe it's a bit of an opinionated statement, but maybe that's because it's how I grew up. A baseball bat was the first thing I picked up that wasn't a bottle according to family sources. That was the first sport I played as a child and that is the sport I have played for the longest amount of time in the past 20 years. Everyone has there passion and I have mine. This game touches me in a way that nothing else can. Maybe the passion is enhanced by the undying devotion to the New York Mets. Having a team you are passionate about always makes a sport better. Perhaps it's the smells associated with baseball. They say smell is the strongest sense tied to memory. It might be the smell of fresh cut grass, that is so strong that I can start to taste it. The grass that is greener than any tree, bush or ninja turtle I have ever seen in my life. Or it could be the smell and sight of dirt. The dirt that is so brown and so fresh that it actually makes you want to wear white so when it stains your clothes, it will still be able to see it when you are home. The smell of hot dogs and beer which under any other circumstance would make you sick after just a few minutes but somehow at the ballpark, you don't ever want it to go away. Could it be the sounds of the game? The obnoxious fan who doesn't know when to shut up, but you agree with every word he is saying (minus the profanity) because he is defending the home team. The pop the glove makes when that small round piece of cowhide finds it's home. The crack of the bat and the roar of the crowd that embraces you with it's volume. Maybe it's all of the aspects balled into one. Maybe it's because some of my finest memories have been at the ballpark. Perhaps it's the fact that this game is a big part of why my mother and I are so close. It could be one of these things or all of them, but whatever it is....I hope they never go away. | | |
| No Use..I have found that I am a very busy guy. As many things as I want to do, I can’t because of my work schedule. I know I keep promising to blog more, but to be honest, there is no point in making promises that I can’t keep. The only real reason I have time to write this blog is because I have taken a little vacation from everyday life. For the next three days I will be at my grandmother’s beach house on the Jersey shore. That means soaking up the sun on the beach, hanging out with the family and Tiffany, and of course BEN!! It’s a well-deserved vacation I like to believe. I work 5 days a week about 9-10 hours a day and on my days off I am usually in Long Island with Tiffany. I am back at Applebee’s for the summer. I started there on May 9th, just two days after I moved back home so I have really been going non-stop. I got my license finally! It couldn’t have come at a more perfect time either. Tiffany lives in Selden, which is about 40-45 minutes driving and an hour and fifteen minutes on the train. There is definitely a big difference between the two, especially the fact that I can come and go whenever I please instead of having to adjust to a train schedule. Although, I have learned that there is no such thing as complete freedom. I am referring to the fact that since I got my license, I was under the impression that I could go wherever I want without having to answer to anyone. I was quickly pulled back down to Earth when my mother conveniently reminded me that it’s HER car, not to mention all the worrying that she does when I do take the car. It has been fun though, I enjoy driving very much. Even though there are days when it seems to be the source of stress, I have found driving to be a stress reliever. All I need is a good CD (or WFAN) and an open road and I am golden.
Chicago was a fun trip with my mom. I had a very good time and got to see a lot of beautiful things while I was there. My mom and I went to a White Sox game with an old friend and her son. It wasn’t really an exciting game but then again, besides Mets games, what game is exciting? Then the following day we went to the book fair downtown. My mom had plans to meet one of her friends that she had met through her blog. We all went out to lunch and I loved her. She was so funny and intelligent and I was very honored to meet her. We only went to go see one author speak and his name was Tim Kirkjian. He is a baseball analyst and is frequently on ESPN and Baseball Tonight. I actually saw him pass me by while we were having lunch. I immediately got up and chased him down. I told him that I was a big fan of his and was actually driving to Detroit the next day to see the Mets and Tigers play. He responded with the comment that made my trip, he said that it was people like me that made him appreciate his job so much more and how it made him extremely happy to know that people out there still were so passionate about the game of baseball. It made me so happy. Later that night we (mom and me) went to meet up with another friend of hers who she used to work with years ago. We only stayed at his house for about half an hour because we had to go meet up with ANOTHER friend of hers. It was a very long and eventful day, but definitely worth it. I had a great time and loved all of her friends.
. One thing that wasn’t so beautiful was seeing the Mets lose 15-7 during their horrific slump that last throughout the first two and a half weeks of June. The good thing about that trip to Detroit though was that after the game was over, my mother and I drove to my Aunt Linda’s house and got to see family that I don’t get to see very often. That was a lot of fun. We hung out and had a mini-barbeque. It was fun just catching up with everyone and being stunned at how much my little cousins have grown over the years. After that we went to my grandfather’s beautiful house. He didn’t get to the house until about one in the morning because he had been in Canada fishing the past week and got caught in a little bit of a snow storm so his flights were a bit delayed. In the morning we (my grandfather, mother and I) sat in the kitchen and discussed the upcoming semester in college and what my goals should be blah, blah, blah. No disrespect to my grandfather or mother, but it’s summertime, the last thing that I want to be talking about is astronomy, ya know? After the long lecture we did some last minute packing and headed to the airport to head back to NYC. Our flight was delayed about an hour due to weather in New York, but we got there okay and in the end, it was a great trip. The one thing I actually appreciated most out of the trip was the fact that it gave my mom and me some time to actually bond. I know since work started she hasn’t really gotten to see me as much as she would like to, so this time was special for us. We have a very close relationship even though we tap dance on each other’s last nerve sometimes. The trip definitely made us that much closer though. I was glad we got to go together and share some quality mother-son time. I loved Chicago. It’s a great city and I definitely look forward to going back real soon.
Now, to touch a subject I briefly addressed, the Amazin’s a.k.a. The New York Mets. It just so happens that my mother and I got to see them play while they were beginning to fall into a horrendous slump. It was pretty ugly seeing as how they only won four out of their first 18 games in June. It was even harder since the Yankees went on a little bit of a hot streak during the Mets’ slump, but now order had been restored to the world. The Mets have won 8 out their last 10 games and have built a somewhat comfortable lead in the division. As for the Yankees, they have lost 8 out of their last 10 games and are still 11 games out of first place; beautiful thing isn’t it?
The last thing I will say is that yesterday marked six months that Tiffany and I have been going out. It may not be a big deal to some people but for us it is. We appreciate the little things in our relationship, which is what makes us that much closer I think. It isn’t anything major but it is a special day to us, which is all that matters  .
** P.S. – Keep an eye out…..I intend to be writing again soon! | | |
| My sincere apology....Ok...so I have definitely gone downhill with my enteries in the past few months, but I have been busy. I know I said it before, but being a college student isn't easy! I have been buried in books since I got back to school, but the hard work has been paying off. My grades have been a huge improvement from last semester so as long as the grades reflect the work I have been putting in, it's worth it.
OK, next order of business....the METS. For those of you who are keeping track and for those who couldn't care any less about baseball, opening day is a week away!! My mother and I have already secured our 7-game opening day pack as well as our Mets/Yankees 7-game pack. Although I am gitty with excitement, I will admit that I am a bit nervous. The Mets haven't really been dropping my jaw in spring traning (except for when I saw that they lost 13-1). But then again, it is only spring training and there is an old rumor that the team that does really bad in spring training usually has a really good season so we'll see.
Since baseball is approaching, that also means warm weather and the summer  The more and more I think about it, the more and more I get excited. The summer always brings good memories. I am hoping to work at Applebee's again (maybe I can meet more Mets players!). More than anything though, I am looking forward to hanging out with my friends. In particular, Billy. I have seen him a few times this semester and he actually came to visit me at school this weekend, but it's nothing compared to the summer. During the summer, we are inseperable. Everyday we go and play basketball from about noon to six or seven. I owe much of my determination and hard-work on the court to Billy. He is the hardest working kid I know when it comes to basketball and I think that being around him all the time rubbed off some of that work ethic on me. If I am working though he usually plays during the day and then comes and picks me up after work at night and we go play at Forest Park. Forest park is this park that is in Kew Gardens (my old neighborhood) that I used to go to everyday to play baseball. Now that my baseball days are over (in terms of playing I mean) it is our basketball haven. We play for a good three or four hours at night and in case you're wondering, we usually get there at around midnight. I will post a video one day of us playing because we usually bring a video camera once in a while and tape ourselves dunking or something. It makes me extremely happy. Nothing is better than basketball during a summer night. I'm just slowly counting down the days... | | |
| Recovery....Day 3So today marked the third day of my recovery process. I slept pretty well, I had fallen asleep the previous night while watching "Philadelphia". I have come to realize that the only thing I love more than cuddling up in my cozy bed underneath my big, down comforter...is falling asleep to a movie I love. But I'll save all of that for another blog.
I woke up at about 11:45 today which was nice. I had realized last night that I needed to get outside today. Especially since it was 70 degrees today!! I thought global warming was kind of just a myth, but after today, I can assure you it's not.
My mother and I went outside just to get some plastic spoons and food to test tonight. We needed the plastics spoons because between the medicine and ice cream and applesauce and all other foods that involve being eaten with a spoon, it was just much easier. And because I was going to start eating my forearm as an alternative source of real food, we picked up some little things to try out. I actually had grilled chicken and mashed potatoes tonight for dinner which at first was a little hard to get down, but after the first couple of bites, and the tears of joy that followed for being blessed to eat real food, it was really no problem at all.
So besides that I kind of just hung out around the house all day. I made a couple of phone calls today to friends of mine to remind them that the Cleveland Cavaliers and the New Jersey Nets would be playing tonight which really meant Vince Carter against LeBron James.
For those of you who don't know, I have a very mild, eh, actually an medium-sized obsession with Vince Carter. He has been my idle ever since he came into the NBA. Initially, as it is for many, the highlight reel dunks that he could pull off were what caught my attention. But the more I started watching him, his swag, his passion, and his charisma on and off the court captivated me even more. Then it took a turn into the obsession lane. About 43 pictures, a few DVD's and a life-size poster later, here I am. A full-fledged Vince Carter fan.
My friends Seun and Glynn (G.Berry) are as avid basketball fans as I am. We usually get into pretty heated, but still friendly debates. I must also mention that after snuggling up to a good movie, having a good heated debate is another favorite of mine. I'm not sure exactly what it is, but debating really makes me happy. Anyway, Seun and G. Berry are both Lebron James fans, but Seun is a bigger fan of Lebron than anyone I know, so when our favorite players go at it...there is much to be said. Although tonight I will admit, the Cavs did win. Vince had an okay game and a highlight dunk once again so it was all ok it my book. It's not like the Nets are in contention for the championship or anything seeing as how they are 4 or 5 games under .500 and they are still in first place. Whatever.
I'm having a little trouble picking what movie I will watch tonight. I got a bunch of DVD's for christmas and my birthday. I am debating between either "Edward Scissorhands" or "Good Will Hunting". I'm not 100% sure yet, but I think it might have to be "Good Will Hunting". For anyone reading this who has not seen it, you must. It's an amazing movie with all around, solid performances by Matt Damon and Robin Williams. With that being said....I'm feeling a little drowsy so I'm off to bed...hopefully tomorrow I can work my way up to a burger!!
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| Long Overdue......WOW! It's been almost TWO months since I have blogged and a lot has happened. School ended on the 18th (thank god!!). It was rough, no question about that, but it ended ok. I finished a lot stronger in economics than I began and the same thing goes for psychology. It's all over now though and I am looking forward to next semester which begins on the 22nd.
Christmas was lots of fun. Ben (my baby cousin) was there and if anyone has read my mom's blog, you know how severe is cuteness is!
I turned 19 as well!! Yup, that means next year I will be 20!!! That's so weird to me, I know I'm still young to everyone older than me, but I feel so old  I spent friday the 29th out with some friends at this nice little place in the next town over from me. Then on the 30th I spent time with my family in Jersey. We had papa john's and Ice cream cake and played games. It was fun to just hang out with everyone during those two days.
New year's Eve (and day) was spent at my friend's house.
It was a fun week. Then it came to a screeching halt yesterday.
Yesterday I had my tonsillectomy. If anyone remembers the problems I had in the beginning of the year than you know why I had to had this procedure. For those who don't, I had a tonsilar abscess in my throat caused by a bacterial infection and if the tonsils were not removed, there was a 50/50 chance that it could happen again in my lifetime. At the time I thought that it was worth it to have them removed because I didn't want to have to experience that pain again. Now that the procedure has taken place, let me tell you what pain really is. Only being able to eat the following foods for 3 days: Pudding, Jell-o, Applesauce, Ice Cream, Applesauce, Pudding, and Applesauce.
I'm. Losing. My. Mind.
I tend to eat about 4 full meals aday so not being able to eat a real meal once in a day is not very good. I have been trying to stay calm but it just isn't happening. I made some progress tonight by eating a peanut butter and jelly, well actually four peanut butter and jellys and a bowl of mac-n-cheese. Hopefully tomorrow will bring more fulling food, but we'll see...
Anyways, I'm off to go play backgammon with my mother to take my mind off of my hunger. I'm back to blogging so look for some more stories tomorrow | | |
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