I'm in the hunt for a nice place to go and chill out for an hour a day outside lunch time.
I'm bringing lunch instead of buying it, and eating at my desk instead of wandering the financial district looking for a sandwich that will cost less than a weekly MBTA pass.
Working through lunch gives me an hour's break everyday I can spend before noon for errands, a coffee break, or finishing the chapter I started on the train that morning.
Except I can't find a comfortable chair.
So I'm re-embarking on a quest I'd started years ago in college (No, not the quest, you BU grads). I'm looking for an easy chair in a quiet room to relax.
It took me a few years at BU, and I never found a space accessible to the public that really met my needs. The best chair I found within a ten-minute walk from class was in the science building (third floor lobby). It was quiet, no foot traffic, and well-lit. The chairs could have been a bit more comfortable, but they were miles beyond the normal comfort curve BU furniture usually rests on.
Now I'm based in the financial district and I've got the same needs. Well-lit, not busy, comfortable, and warm - especially with winter coming up.
And I refuse to retreat to Starbucks.
I'll keep you updated.
-t
Monday, August 27, 2007
Friday, August 24, 2007
Next Stop, Forty
I am so old.
Twenty-five years and one month. Crazy old, right?
When I hit twenty-five, the twenty-fifth anniversary of the day I was born, I wasn't able to comprehend the enormity of that time span. "Congratulations!" my relations would say, "Now you're a quarter of a century old!" I got a birthday card with a picture of a train on it that said "Next stop, Forty!"
I laughed, uneasily, being polite, but knew I didn't really understand what was going on. I decided to give myself more time.
So here we are, four weeks later, I'm even older than I was (though I suppose we all are...unless one of you out there has access to some pill, or fountain, or some magical youth-rendering treatment (wherein, I can only imagine, you kidnap youths and slowly heat them over a low flame to remove their youthiness (like truthiness) as you would fat from bacon)) and desperation is setting in.
What have I really accomplished in all this time? (Oh my God, all...this...time...It's been so long!)
Sure, I've survived to see twenty-five, but that's not such a big deal anymore, it may even surprise you to learn that most people born in Western indulstrialized countries to middle-income families with access to the world's greatest hospitals are expected to make it to twenty-five.
And sure, I've passed the crucible that is our education system (heated unequally by elementary, secondary, and collegiary flames), so there's that, I guess.
I was able to obtain employment, doing a job only about seventeen million other people across the country do, in a manner, and with an outlook that is almost exactly the same (haphazard, and apathetic, respectively).
I used the money I earned to purchase symbols of my financial status, demonstrations of my worth. I've got a car of my own (only thirty more payments!) I've got the Xbox 360, I've got um...shoes.
But look at the total package! What have I realy accomplished?! What have I done that people will remember me for? (Except that game of assassins I orchestrated in college. Man, that was totally awesome. Oh no, I think I'm starting to live in the past! My finest hour is behind me! WHAT HAVE I BECOME?!)
World takeover bid? That's a young man's game. Climbing Mt. Everst? Not with this arthritis. What's left but to run for public office? I'm almost old enough to run for the presidency! And then what's left? Retire to Harlem, like the great presidents before me, and then take my place next to them in the eternal resting place of our past leaders in Grant's Tomb.
Anyway, twenty-five's pretty damn old. I'll probably be using a walker the next time you see me, if I can even get out of bed for company. That's it. It's over man, game over. This is the end. They were right, all downhill from here. Last trip around the sun. The long goodnight. The last mimzy. Serpico. Fin.
25. Next stop, forty.
-t
Twenty-five years and one month. Crazy old, right?
When I hit twenty-five, the twenty-fifth anniversary of the day I was born, I wasn't able to comprehend the enormity of that time span. "Congratulations!" my relations would say, "Now you're a quarter of a century old!" I got a birthday card with a picture of a train on it that said "Next stop, Forty!"
I laughed, uneasily, being polite, but knew I didn't really understand what was going on. I decided to give myself more time.
So here we are, four weeks later, I'm even older than I was (though I suppose we all are...unless one of you out there has access to some pill, or fountain, or some magical youth-rendering treatment (wherein, I can only imagine, you kidnap youths and slowly heat them over a low flame to remove their youthiness (like truthiness) as you would fat from bacon)) and desperation is setting in.
What have I really accomplished in all this time? (Oh my God, all...this...time...It's been so long!)
Sure, I've survived to see twenty-five, but that's not such a big deal anymore, it may even surprise you to learn that most people born in Western indulstrialized countries to middle-income families with access to the world's greatest hospitals are expected to make it to twenty-five.
And sure, I've passed the crucible that is our education system (heated unequally by elementary, secondary, and collegiary flames), so there's that, I guess.
I was able to obtain employment, doing a job only about seventeen million other people across the country do, in a manner, and with an outlook that is almost exactly the same (haphazard, and apathetic, respectively).
I used the money I earned to purchase symbols of my financial status, demonstrations of my worth. I've got a car of my own (only thirty more payments!) I've got the Xbox 360, I've got um...shoes.
But look at the total package! What have I realy accomplished?! What have I done that people will remember me for? (Except that game of assassins I orchestrated in college. Man, that was totally awesome. Oh no, I think I'm starting to live in the past! My finest hour is behind me! WHAT HAVE I BECOME?!)
World takeover bid? That's a young man's game. Climbing Mt. Everst? Not with this arthritis. What's left but to run for public office? I'm almost old enough to run for the presidency! And then what's left? Retire to Harlem, like the great presidents before me, and then take my place next to them in the eternal resting place of our past leaders in Grant's Tomb.
Anyway, twenty-five's pretty damn old. I'll probably be using a walker the next time you see me, if I can even get out of bed for company. That's it. It's over man, game over. This is the end. They were right, all downhill from here. Last trip around the sun. The long goodnight. The last mimzy. Serpico. Fin.
25. Next stop, forty.
-t
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Skate
skate is awesome.
It's a video game, about skateboarding. EA is looking to upset the Tony Hawk Pro Skater monopoly on next generation consoles with this title, and, after playing the demo, they just might.
Now, I've gone on record citing THPS for N64 as the greatest video game in the history of video games, a stance I will maintain forever.
It was so crazy awesome that the series quickly grew from a "skate and collect demo tapes to get sponsors!" game to "try to go off this ramp and attain near-earth orbit then grind on the Great Wall of China in a three million point combo" game.
But it was still awesome. Sure the controls were getting a little repetitive, but if it's not broke... and sure, they were running out of cool places to skate (how many generic skate parks in West Coast cities can you see before getting bored?), and sure, the only thing gamers kept coming back for were ridiculously inflated combo scores and Newtonian-defying inertia bonuses (it's physically impossible to speed up while grinding a level rail, as it turns out).
So THPS went on to tremendous heights (literally, I once jumped into a sixth story window), and raked in the cash hand over fist.
Enter skate. The demo takes place in an ordinary skate park. You're an ordinary skater. You do ordinary skater things like ollie, kickflip, heelflip. This game is aimed toward realism - you won't see any of these skaters magically pull a boombox out of their backpack in the midst of a one-footed smith grind.
But the real magic is the control scheme. It's new! It's exciting! It barely uses the face buttons at all! (seriously, "A" to push off was the only one I used the whole time).
You control the board with your right joystick, your body with the left. Tricks are performed by moving the joysticks up, down, left, right, and rotating them in either direction.
In no time I was flying around the park jumping over obstacles, pulling sweet looking grabs, powersliding into quick turns, and grinding low rails. And loving every minute of it.
Because as phenomenal as I am at Tony Hawk Pro Skater (I am phenomenal, seriously), I'm already feeling how easy this game will be to pick up. I'm going to dominate.
Exaggerated vs. Real - Button Mashing vs. Inuition
Everybody wins! (unless you're playing me... then you will lose.)
-t
It's a video game, about skateboarding. EA is looking to upset the Tony Hawk Pro Skater monopoly on next generation consoles with this title, and, after playing the demo, they just might.
Now, I've gone on record citing THPS for N64 as the greatest video game in the history of video games, a stance I will maintain forever.
It was so crazy awesome that the series quickly grew from a "skate and collect demo tapes to get sponsors!" game to "try to go off this ramp and attain near-earth orbit then grind on the Great Wall of China in a three million point combo" game.
But it was still awesome. Sure the controls were getting a little repetitive, but if it's not broke... and sure, they were running out of cool places to skate (how many generic skate parks in West Coast cities can you see before getting bored?), and sure, the only thing gamers kept coming back for were ridiculously inflated combo scores and Newtonian-defying inertia bonuses (it's physically impossible to speed up while grinding a level rail, as it turns out).
So THPS went on to tremendous heights (literally, I once jumped into a sixth story window), and raked in the cash hand over fist.
Enter skate. The demo takes place in an ordinary skate park. You're an ordinary skater. You do ordinary skater things like ollie, kickflip, heelflip. This game is aimed toward realism - you won't see any of these skaters magically pull a boombox out of their backpack in the midst of a one-footed smith grind.
But the real magic is the control scheme. It's new! It's exciting! It barely uses the face buttons at all! (seriously, "A" to push off was the only one I used the whole time).
You control the board with your right joystick, your body with the left. Tricks are performed by moving the joysticks up, down, left, right, and rotating them in either direction.
In no time I was flying around the park jumping over obstacles, pulling sweet looking grabs, powersliding into quick turns, and grinding low rails. And loving every minute of it.
Because as phenomenal as I am at Tony Hawk Pro Skater (I am phenomenal, seriously), I'm already feeling how easy this game will be to pick up. I'm going to dominate.
Exaggerated vs. Real - Button Mashing vs. Inuition
Everybody wins! (unless you're playing me... then you will lose.)
-t
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Foresight
I'd just like to go on the record as saying I'm totally OK with paying through the nose this offseason to get A-Rod to come play third base for us. Or shortstop. Or second base. Or first. Or closer.
I like Mike Lowell at third base. He's having a hell of a year. I'd be totally ok with extending his contract through 2009 or 2010 and letting him retire in Boston.
But I'm also totally ok with replacing him with maybe the greatest baseball player in the history of baseball. I've hated A-Rod since he became a Yankee. I will continue to hate him as long as he's a Yankee or playing in the American League East - but man, how messed up are you if you don't want him playing on your hometown nine? He's practically a force of nature! The numbers! They're incredible! Can you even comprehend what sort of offense Ortiz-Ramirez-Rodriguez would generate? I can't. I'm telling you, I cannot comprehend it. Hell, A-Rod would make J.D. Drew a better hitter!
So, Theo, I totally trust you, and only want to let you know, there is at least one fan who gets that putting Alex Rodriguez on the payroll would be freakin' awesome.
For clarity's sake, however, (and my Boston reader's sanity) I will reiterate the following:
Just wanted to get that out there.
I like Mike Lowell at third base. He's having a hell of a year. I'd be totally ok with extending his contract through 2009 or 2010 and letting him retire in Boston.
But I'm also totally ok with replacing him with maybe the greatest baseball player in the history of baseball. I've hated A-Rod since he became a Yankee. I will continue to hate him as long as he's a Yankee or playing in the American League East - but man, how messed up are you if you don't want him playing on your hometown nine? He's practically a force of nature! The numbers! They're incredible! Can you even comprehend what sort of offense Ortiz-Ramirez-Rodriguez would generate? I can't. I'm telling you, I cannot comprehend it. Hell, A-Rod would make J.D. Drew a better hitter!
So, Theo, I totally trust you, and only want to let you know, there is at least one fan who gets that putting Alex Rodriguez on the payroll would be freakin' awesome.
For clarity's sake, however, (and my Boston reader's sanity) I will reiterate the following:
- I hate Jeter, and will hate Jeter now matter how long he plays or how many different teams he plays for (Ha. Right. Like Jeter is ever not going to be a Yankee).
- I hate Giambi. I have always hated Giambi.
- I hate the entire Yankee organization.
- I hope A-Rod doesn't get a clutch hit for the remainder of his tenure in New York, and I hope he commits three (costly) errors a game.
- Go Red Sox
Just wanted to get that out there.
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
The Most Important Things
This is completely ridiculous. I need a job that gives me more free time. I just can't fit work, blog reading, and blog writing into my current schedule, and blog reading and writing clearly aren't going to get cut.
Publishing seems to call to me. I think, if I could do it succsesfully, writing would be the ideal career. Any kind of writing, really - I would certainly enjoy the wacky adventures of a freelance novelist of the Wonder Boys ilk; and I had a blast writing for my high school newspaper and would guess daily publishing is much the same (in addition, I would undoubtedly be presented with myriad opportunities to solve murder mysteries and uncover nefarious plots, like these famous reporters - oh, and let's not forget this guy.)
Upon re-reading that second point, it seems to me it is not so much the freedom of a flexible schedule that I seek, but is, in fact, super human abilities.
But if that isn't the best job perk going I might as well just get myself fired and file for unemployment.
Publishing seems to call to me. I think, if I could do it succsesfully, writing would be the ideal career. Any kind of writing, really - I would certainly enjoy the wacky adventures of a freelance novelist of the Wonder Boys ilk; and I had a blast writing for my high school newspaper and would guess daily publishing is much the same (in addition, I would undoubtedly be presented with myriad opportunities to solve murder mysteries and uncover nefarious plots, like these famous reporters - oh, and let's not forget this guy.)
Upon re-reading that second point, it seems to me it is not so much the freedom of a flexible schedule that I seek, but is, in fact, super human abilities.
But if that isn't the best job perk going I might as well just get myself fired and file for unemployment.
Thursday, August 02, 2007
The Monday Meeting is supposed to take place on Monday.
Why, sure, I'd love another group meeting, we only had one last week. What's on the agenda today?
Introductions for the new girl who joined the group Monday. (Hey, guys, it's Thursday...introductions were taken care of Monday, you know, when she started)
Tech Support updates. (Nothing new to report? Really? You mean the requests you sent for your pet projects that you've been talking about for three months are still sitting in the IT inbox? Unread? So your report is "nothing to report." Great.)
Brand new organizational chart! (Damn I am so excited, the last one of these we saw was pretty blasé, all grey and black. Maybe this one will have some yellow or red, with arrows! It really is a shame we only get these once a week. New org charts would be a huge hit on a daily basis.)
Finally, new responsibilities! Yay! The most experienced guy is moving to another group! Everybody else gets bumped up one spot, I get moved from the medium difficulty funds to the really giant hard funds, sweet. Today international mutual funds, tomorrow, the world!
Thanks for giving up an hour of your processing time, now get back to work and make sure you still get everything finished by the afternoon deadline!
Stupid Meetings.
Introductions for the new girl who joined the group Monday. (Hey, guys, it's Thursday...introductions were taken care of Monday, you know, when she started)
Tech Support updates. (Nothing new to report? Really? You mean the requests you sent for your pet projects that you've been talking about for three months are still sitting in the IT inbox? Unread? So your report is "nothing to report." Great.)
Brand new organizational chart! (Damn I am so excited, the last one of these we saw was pretty blasé, all grey and black. Maybe this one will have some yellow or red, with arrows! It really is a shame we only get these once a week. New org charts would be a huge hit on a daily basis.)
Finally, new responsibilities! Yay! The most experienced guy is moving to another group! Everybody else gets bumped up one spot, I get moved from the medium difficulty funds to the really giant hard funds, sweet. Today international mutual funds, tomorrow, the world!
Thanks for giving up an hour of your processing time, now get back to work and make sure you still get everything finished by the afternoon deadline!
Stupid Meetings.
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
.500
Final softball game of the year!
Reviewing my season's stats before the game I was 11-for-23 going into the game and would need a 1-for-1 performance to hit the .500 mark for the season.
My first at bat came in the second inning, and I beat out an infield hit! I advanced to second base on a walk, but was tagged out trying to slide under a tag on a ground ball to third. My team (the blue team) took the lead.
Unfortunately, a few throwing errors in the field gave the bad guys (the red team) a few runs back and made it a ballgame.
I didn't help much by grounding out to first base my next time up - which also dropped me back below .500!
We scored a few, they scored a few to keep it close, and then in the seventh inning I led off with a hit up the middle and scored on a two-run home run. (.500 again!)
And in the bottom of the sixth I played some stellar defense to hang on to the one run lead. After a pop fly to third base to start the inning the bad guys loaded the bases with a few hits and a walk, then brought in two runs with a single to make it a one-run game.
So, with one out and runners on first and second I caught a screaming line drive at first base and dove at the runner, caught off the bag, to apply a tag and double him off to hold the lead!
We scored twice more in the top of the seventh and got three quick outs in the bottom of the inning to win our final game.
Go blue team.
Tom's season totals:
AB 26
H 13
AVG 0.500
BB 0
K 4
R 9
RBI 8
2B 1
3B 1
HR 1
SLG .731
OBP .500
OPS 1.231
Not too shabby for my first season in organized ball since freshman year of high school. Next year I'll be shooting for zero strikeouts and more doubles.
-t
Reviewing my season's stats before the game I was 11-for-23 going into the game and would need a 1-for-1 performance to hit the .500 mark for the season.
My first at bat came in the second inning, and I beat out an infield hit! I advanced to second base on a walk, but was tagged out trying to slide under a tag on a ground ball to third. My team (the blue team) took the lead.
Unfortunately, a few throwing errors in the field gave the bad guys (the red team) a few runs back and made it a ballgame.
I didn't help much by grounding out to first base my next time up - which also dropped me back below .500!
We scored a few, they scored a few to keep it close, and then in the seventh inning I led off with a hit up the middle and scored on a two-run home run. (.500 again!)
And in the bottom of the sixth I played some stellar defense to hang on to the one run lead. After a pop fly to third base to start the inning the bad guys loaded the bases with a few hits and a walk, then brought in two runs with a single to make it a one-run game.
So, with one out and runners on first and second I caught a screaming line drive at first base and dove at the runner, caught off the bag, to apply a tag and double him off to hold the lead!
We scored twice more in the top of the seventh and got three quick outs in the bottom of the inning to win our final game.
Go blue team.
Tom's season totals:
AB 26
H 13
AVG 0.500
BB 0
K 4
R 9
RBI 8
2B 1
3B 1
HR 1
SLG .731
OBP .500
OPS 1.231
Not too shabby for my first season in organized ball since freshman year of high school. Next year I'll be shooting for zero strikeouts and more doubles.
-t
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