Red Sox Win World Series again..finally

By finally, I refer to watching baseball consistently for a month. It was like a second job, in a good way though...

The above picture was what I saw in front of me every night: a TV in front of me and a dog (Ginny) in the general vicinity. Darla (other dog) goes to bed promptly every night at 9:32 pm. Ginny, however, is the faithful Red Sox fan.

The picture below is a shadow caused by the sun shining through our kitchen window early Sunday morning. It reminds me of special effects in images before special effects existed. Just a neat photo..no big whoop.

Boston in the movies and real life

So I (Matt) know I’ve written about my cousin being in a movie that just came out (Gone Baby Gone), numerous times. We saw it on Saturday. It's good.

I am done selling the movie though I still have a personal interest it. Why? The takes place in the two neighborhoods where my mother grew up: South Boston and Dorchester. I now believe my interest has less to do with the fact that a cousin is an actor in the movie, and more to do with my own childhood experiences. I didn’t grow up in these neighborhoods, but they are the places I spent the majority of childhood, outside of the town where I grew up (until age 14). Before today, I hadn’t really thought of this movie (and other movies about South Boston) in terms of my own experience. After reading a review of the movie, it got me thinking. Mainly, the following excerpt did:

“It's what you don't choose in life that make you who you are." He goes on to give examples like family, or where you were born, while the camera sweeps across the hardened blue-collar streets of Dorchester, Mass., eventually landing smack in the middle of a community grieving the disappearance of a little girl who was kidnapped from her bed. Those of us on the outside looking in would describe these people as "white trash" -- the kind of folks that made Jerry Springer a household name -- but to Patrick, this is home. These are the people he grew up with, these are the people he'll grow old with, and these are the people he'll go out of his way to protect.”

I won’t debate movie inferences on how these to supposedly rough neighborhoods are portrayed. I can share my experiences as a young boy in the 1970's.

I remember these neighborhoods as a child, filled with extended family. There were family members everywhere, all the time... cousins, uncles, aunts, you name it…..stopping in saying hello and leaving. I remember men in brown leather jackets with polyester collars sticking out. I remember the smell of cigarettes in enormous Cadillacs with the first automatic windows I had ever seen. To this day, when I get into a car that smells of a certain brand of cigarette, I feel good for no reason.

I remember ancient uncles and aunts looking upon me as a young child and saying “He-ah’s a dollah Methew, go getcha self an ice cream.” If I had a dollar for every dollar I was given to go get an ice cream.

The homes contained furniture and a certain familiar smell of the past. They reminded me of what it must have been like to live in Boston in the 1940’s: older, ornate, wooden furniture and giant stair cases. Upon arriving, the first thing my grandmother would do would demand a hug. During the hug, she would say “ooooooh, that’s a gooood boy.” Then, she would make me eat. Even if I wasn’t’ hungry, refusing food was not an option.

I remember the same question over and over again: "Methew, ah you studying hahhd in school? Ah you doin yah homework?" My answers would of course be ‘yes’ and ‘yes’ while the truth was ‘no’ and ‘no.’ I didn’t study and do homework (much), but this doesn’t mean I wasn’t paying attention.

I remember smiles, hugs, pats on the back, good-natured interrogations, listening to advice, listening to everything…activity and chatter.

Outside of these places, Kid World was very different. Kid World (minus any family, nuclear or extended) in a small, quiet town was a very scary place, while in Extended Family World (the supposedly “rough” South Boston and Dorchester) I felt protected and safe.

There were first communions, confirmations, weddings and funerals. All of them at St. Brendan’s in Dorchester. During these occasions, whether in sadness or celebration, the sense of family was always there. When my grandmother died at 99 (in 2005), my Uncle Jimmy (who is a Firefighter in South Boston) said that it was an end of an era. He was right, but whatever intangible family thing that I cannot describe here, did not end.

From the memories mentioned above, jump almost 30 years later. During the most tragic event that my immediate family (Maryland) ever experienced, the South Boston and Dorchester people got up and left the places they never seem to leave.. and came here to Maryland for support. After a funeral, there was the same chatter that I remember as a child....the same questions..the same feeling. Next time, I am sure the reason for receiving these guests will be to celebrate something, rather than mourn.

The way you learn about family helps you learn abut relationships and friendships. I'm no wise old sage (better looking than this guy though), but I can give examples. I still speak with my oldest friend (since 8 years old) on a regular basis. I recently had lunch with the first friend I made when my family moved to Maryland ( in 1986). I will be starting a new job soon, thanks to the first friend I made in college (in 1990). So, I don't really care if a movie paints a broad brush in how it portrays two neighborhoods in Boston. I already know.

Smooth as a Baby's

There's no purposeful theme with this post from the most recent. My coworker sent me the link to this video. I watched it and was amused. The thirty-three second point is my favorite part.

I know this is an adverstisement, but it doesn't matter.

Fight For Kisses //// www.ffk-wilkinson.com
envoyé par killafather

This Made Me laugh

Most internet videos are boe-reeng.

This one is the first one in awhile that actually made me (Matt) laugh:

Life out Left

It's been 6 days and I can't seem to make my body behave. My superior body clock can neither be trained nor tricked. I usually wake up around 6:30 am when I'm at home, which is 3:30 am when I happen to be in CA (fortunately not very often).

After days of negotiations, we've split the difference and I have been awarded custody of one more hour of sleep and so I'm waking up about 4:45 am for the last week. When you're inside a small room with no windows for hours of endless training, unnatural light beaming down on you like it's from the mothership, the early mornings end up wearing on you.

Fortunately, I planned to treat myself to a Saturday in Napa Valley. I'd like to say I've earned it but I will never again make a week of instrument training prerequisite to a lovely weekend in Wine Country!

Here's how the Saturday went: on bike, 25 miles of Napa Valley in made-to-order weather!Looks a little familiar, right?

Miss you, husband!

Aimee's view from training in California

I bothered her about sending me a pic of where she is training (Hercules, CA near San Fran), since she said it was on the water.

Not bad, wife! Your dogs miss you...they told me this morning. Yes, I can speak to dogs.

Gone Baby Gone in the Movies next week.

(Matt)

The movies, you say? Yes, I say.

Why?

Because my cousin (2nd) wil be in a big whoozamahoo movie, by Ben Affleck. I posted about it before, but now the movie is actually coming into the Theatre.

I just googled him (my cousin, not Ben Affleck..that's awkward) and found the following reference. Remember, my mother's family is from the neighborhoods featured in the movie, just like The New Kids On The Block, Aimee's favorite (when she was 10 years old). Slaine is my cousin's 'Hollywood' name.

"Given novelist David Lehane's Dorchester roots and Affleck's' previous immersion in the tough streets of Southie in Good Will Hunting, a sense of place means much to this film's success. To the Europeans who have complained that the Dot Rat (Dorchesterite) accents are hard to understand, Affleck has replied, "This is Boston's revenge for [Guy Ritchie's Cockney and Gypsy-babbling] Snatch." Local rapper Dickie Skinz (whose Sik Pup label just released a Red Sox-themed single in time for the playoffs) is bested only by another local rapper, Slaine, in street authenticity."

Did you see that? Street Authenticity. That's just plain 'off thuh hook'. There's also a new trailer. Check it before you wreck it (like that one? authentic?):

The press is also getting into it:

MSNBC

USA Today

So make sure you see it. I am not sure how much of a role he has but he is still seen in the trailer above, so Good For You George, I mean Slaine!

Keepin It Real In the Burbs,

-EMRO-

Warm Fall Weekend Photos

ot much, in terms of excitement. We went to Taste of Bethesda . On Sunday, we celebrated my (Matt's) father's birthday.

I took pics with my cell phone. Yes, cell phone pics are not the best.

Giant Paella

Aimee catching flies, I mean ordering ice cream.

My (Matt's) Dad's birthday party at my brother Jhan's (pronounced John) house.

Meadow in front of Jhan's house.

Birthday Graveyard: A Memorial

Most people love their own birthday. I mean you are soooo special- it's your day, right. You and the 18 million other people that sing "Happy Birthday" each day. (It's true, I Wiki'd it)

I have a friend, you may know her, who is special everyday but who happens to loathe her birthday. I think it may have something to do with the psychology of aversion. See, since I've known her, Sandy has had the worst luck on her birthday. One year her purse was stolen while we were out celebrating (along with Julie's). One year there was a huge relationship disaster that was created by a jealous 'friend' all but destroying a loving friendship. One year a huge car crash shut down 95 and we weren't able to make our party destination (at least she had a better day than those folks!). . . and various other mishaps have caused her to come to rue the day that is set aside for celebration.

I have decided that this year we will note the memories of bad birthdays past and bury them forever. This will allow her to move on and again enjoy her birthday!

Happy Birthday, Sandy. Who loves ya, baby?!
~Aimee

Attention Citizens of France and Chile!

Do you know the saying "Don't work for your money. Make your money work for you?" It's kind of silly. But true. Well, I though about it. Why not make our blog work a little?

Now, you ask: What the heck does this have to do with the title of this post? Be patient friend, amigo, ami.

For French People:

Seine River

Before I ask your help: I know it may be a bit presumptious to assume that people from France actually read our blog, since...well.....not many people read our blog. I know of at least one: our friend Guillaume. So for example, if I have a question about France, maybe Guillaume can contact his friends Maurice, Remy, and Colette. One of them may be able to help. This, mon ami, is the power of the Internet. The above example is fictitious. I just chose some French first names. I don't know if Guillaume, who is a real person, has friends with the names above (fake people).

Le Rasion: My parents will celebrate their 45 wedding anniversary next year. On that exact day, they will board a River Cruise in Paris and travel the Seine to reach Le Havre.

Comment excitant, right?

So, maybe you are familiar with some of the stops on their itinerary (click to view). Maybe you, as a citizen of France, may see one of the places my parents will visit and say:

Mon dieu, my uncle Jean Luc lives in Rouen. He tells me often of a small store where they sell excellent fromage! The store is run by an angry old man named Benoit who will spit at you unless you look at him with one eye only. It is pure Magic!

Basically, what I am asking for, Dear Habitantes Du France, is advice that I can pass along to my parents. Vincent can vouch for my parents as they are good folk who hold no prejudices against your people! So, please post your comments. I am interested in your thoughts.

For People who live in CHILE or Chileans.

Frutillar Chile

Valle Del Elqui, Chile

My mother, sister and brother will all be travelling to Chile (again for my Mom) this December. My mother is having trouble to decide from two places to visit: La Serena or The Lake Region.

La Serena:

Pros: Close to Santiago, nice beach area, nicer weather, close to Valle Del Elqui where they make Pisco and the location of Gabriel Mistral's home/museum.

Cons: Maybe not as interesting as the Lake Region.

Lake Region:

Pros: Beautiful lakes, including Lago De Todo De Los Santos. Frutillar (small German-looking village). Valdivia, which is an aweseome city on a River. Puerto Montt -aweseome fishing city/village.

Cons: Weather not as nice. Far from Santiago. Colder.

I am leaning towards La Serena but would like to know your thoughts. Please feel free to comment.

Make the blog work, Citizens of Earth....!

Baseball Play Offs. GO Red Sox

I don't want to just limit this post to how I am a life long Red Sox fan, blah blah blah. Snore, yawn, stretch, pfffrrt. The "I am more of a fan than the other guy" got old in 1987.

Aimee also likes baseball. She is a big Houston Astros fan. Her Dad has season tickets and they text eachother while he's at the games (for updates). She knows all about the players and is the only one of either of us who actually WENT a the WORLD SERIES game. Nice!

The Astros are out and the Red Sox are in. Alas, Houston. Maybe next year. As for this year, I am hopeful. I don't wear my fandom on my sleeve, but I can say that have always been a one......and will always be.

I am lucky that my wife likes baseball. Because on the day we were married it was the first game of the Red Sox playing in the WORLD SERIES since 1986 and their first chance to win since 1918. She didn't mind so much that the GAME was on the TV DURING the reception! BTW, the Red Sox finally won..while we were on our Honeymoon. I watched the games.

That's me and my creepy older brother during the wedding reception with the Red Sox in the background.

Thanks Wife....