Tag Archives: BosGuy

Marathon Fever Hits Boston

Posted on April 18, 2008 | Leave a comment

It is Marathon weekend in Boston with the 112th Race scheduled for Monday, Patriot’s Day (April 21). Just walking around you can see that the city is abuzz readying for Marathon Monday. This is another tradition I love about Boston and look forward to each year. As with Easter, the Marathon is another one of those events that I automatically associate with the spring season. I hope the weather is sunny and a bit warmer than the mid50s that is forecast.

In addition, I’ll be going to my first Red Sox game of the season so I’m really looking forward to the long weekend and hope to have a lot of fun cheering for the Red Sox and then visiting the race to look for my friend Paul who is running his first marathon.

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Posted on April 11, 2008 | Leave a comment

What does the word family mean and how are our perceptions of the word changing? I looked up the definition and according to Merriam Webster Family has many definitions, but the first two seemed to fit with what I perceive to be traditionally held concepts.

fam·i·ly
Pronunciation: \’fam-lē
Function: noun
1: a group of individuals living under one roof and usually under one head: household
2: a group of persons of common ancestry

The subject has been top of mind lately because a family member has been struggling and the issues this person has been dealing with came to a head on Monday. Fortunately, the family swooped in and was able to provide the support he so badly needed, but it made me sad that I had not spoken up sooner or inserted myself (forcefully if necessary) to get in his face before the situation became so grim. I can only assume he must have been feeling very lonely lately which is sad because we all live so close to each other and genuinely enjoy getting together.

The isolation that comes from feeling alone – truly alone – is difficult to deal with day after day. I can recall those feelings as a teenager and my early 20s. However, I did have a family that was present, and I’m certain that despite feeling distant and alone their presence helped keep me grounded. I would not like to think what might have been my destiny if they were not there. For my relative’s sake, we all need to be a bit more present to help keep him grounded.

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Margaret Cho

Posted on April 5, 2008 | Leave a comment

Tonight I am going to see Margaret Cho at the Orpheum. Margaret is a raunchy, pull no punches loud mouth who laces her comedy with a political punch. I have watched her performances (“I’m the one that I want“, “Notorious C.H.O“, etc) for years. Last year I enjoyed watching her emcee the True Colors Tour when it came to Boston. However, tonight should be far more entertaining and I am excited to get out and hear her act. I can only imagine what she might have to say about the our current President and the Democratic Primary.

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Posted on April 4, 2008 | Leave a comment

A lot has been made of the contentious primary season in the Democratic Party (negative campaigning and botched primaries in MI and FL), but I think that the race has sharpened both Clinton and Obama and will better prepare who ever wins the nomination for the general election.

Both candidates have done a great job grabbing the headlines away from the Republicans allowing the candidates to define themselves on their own terms while lobbing repeated criticisms at McCain and Bush’s policies. Unlike the press and many Democrats (according to the press) I think that a nominee will emerge in the weeks that follow and the party will be better for it.

All one has to do is look at how much money both candidates have raised and compare that to the money the Republican Party has raised and one gets a sense of how much people want a change at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Who can say for certain what will happen in November but with Clinton and Obama collectively raising $60M in the month of March after several months of record-setting fund raising, I can not help but be optimistic and excited about the campaign.

I really do think that both candidates have inspired an entire generation and political science teachers will for years refer back to how history was re-defined when Clinton and Obama ran a hard fought (and sometimes bruising) race for their Party’s nomination.

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Posted in Barack Obama

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Happy Birthday Mom

Posted on April 3, 2008 | Leave a comment


Today is my mother’s birthday and I wanted to recognize her. She is one of my absolute favorite people and a personal hero of mine; in addition to being a great Mom.

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Bush Administration Memo Approved Torture

Posted on April 3, 2008 | Leave a comment

Rarely am I disgusted with my government. Well rarely am I totally disgusted with my government, but the news that the Pentagon released a now defunct memo from the Bush administration outlining the legal justifications and loopholes to torture “enemy combatants” really made me sick to my stomach. Even the term “enemy combatant” upsets me – because what they really mean is people. Perhaps they are mean, awful, terrible individuals but they are people all the same. The irony that life is sacred to Bush while it is in a woman’s womb is not lost on me. I suppose the lesson is after birth life must not be as valuable or special.

The News Hour discussed this subject for a good 10 minutes tonight on the evening news and for the life of me I’m still at a total loss to understand why / how we have allowed this administration to undercut our moral authority and reputation both in the world and at home (at least with Americans who feel as I do). Clearly the U.S. is not a rogue or terrorist nation. Obviously our country has contributed to the cause of human rights. And certainly most Americans believe that life (regardless of who we are talking about) is something to be treasured and treated with respect. So how can a Justice Department memo, dated March 14, 2003 written by former staffer John Yoo, that offered a defense if an interrogator was charged with violating U.S. or international laws for torturing enemy combatants even exist? How can the Bush Administration not see the damage he has inflicted on the repuation of the country? Considering he (Bush) has such a moralistic view on life, I can not understand how he justifies his actions – is he haunted by his decisions? I’m not left with that impression (not that it would make me feel better about what he has done). I am thoroughly disgusted and at a loss for words to adequately address this topic. I can only refer back to an earlier posting I wrote in late 2007 when waterboarding was a hot subject discussed in the news called “What Are Values?”

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Posted in George Bush

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Meeting in New York City

Posted on April 3, 2008 | Leave a comment

On Monday I hopped on the Acela to get to New York City. My boss had arranged a team dinner and an all day meeting to follow on Tuesday so everyone could meet each other and to address a number of ongoing projects. I arrived into town and stayed at the Dylan Hotel around the corner from the office. The hotel was convenient and clean, but I’m a starwood guy so on future visits I doubt I will stay there. However, since this was my first visit, I wanted some place close to the mother-ship for my meeting and the location simply could not be beat.

It was great to meet everyone, because it helped me feel more connected to the team. I really like working virtually, but I need to feel personally connected. Plus it was really fun eating at Tao Restaurant and spending the day at the corporate headquarters. I had a spectacular view of Midtown’s skyline.

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Hello Spring

Posted on March 25, 2008 | Leave a comment

I feel as if life is passing me by this month. Changing jobs and adjusting to my new routine has really made me very self absorbed. I could not believe that last week spring had officially arrived. The cold weather ensured that it did not feel like spring, but Easter came and went and for me that holiday always signifies the change of seasons.

I am finally starting to get accustomed to my new routine. I won’t say that I’m totally comfortable and that the ‘adjustment phase’ has concluded, but things seem like they are getting back on track. I even went out a bunch this weekend, starting on Friday when a group of us went to dinner and then to see Avenue Q. And on Sunday I went to my parent’s house for the Easter holiday. I ate far too much and had a great time.

Yesterday (Monday) was a friend’s birthday. He planned to have a large (20+ people) dinner party at Ashmont Grill in Dorchester. Normally I’m not a fan of large groups going out to dinner but last night definitely exceeded expectations. Suffice it to say, it was both delicious and a lot of fun.

And lastly, today, the Red Sox won the first game of the season against Oakland in extra innings in Tokyo. I look forward to the baseball season, because if Easter signifies spring – baseball makes me think of summer, and I love summer in Boston.

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Posted in GetMeTheHellOutOfHere Syndrome

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Posted on March 19, 2008 | Leave a comment

I have been unable to accomplish anything the past few weeks and although it has been convenient to blame the new job I think it is just sheer laziness. I’m trying to rally but the freezing rain and lack of sun has definitely caused another relapse of GetMeTheHellOutOfHere Syndrome.

I have a beautiful view of Boston harbor from where I sit on the 15th Floor in downtown Boston, but on days like today the view becomes depressing. The fog is so thick that it is hard to see the airport and the sun is nowhere to be found. Refusing to let the weather get me down, I have decided to focus my thoughts on Friday night’s performance of Avenue Q. I first saw Avenue Q in NYC, and when I found out the show would be in town through a mutual friend, we bought tickets.

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Bostonist

Posted on March 17, 2008 | Leave a comment

So I have added a new blog/website that is all about Boston called Bostonist to my list of favorites. The site appears to be part of a larger family of websites – other “ist” cities that have blogs include: Phillyist, Chicagoist, SFist, Torontoist, LAist, Londonist, Gothamist, Seattlest and Austinist.

We’ll see how the site shapes up. For now I’m going to add it to my growing list of blogs and websites I periodically check.

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The past week – not one to dwell upon

Posted on March 14, 2008 | Leave a comment

The orientation training I did in Atlanta for PwC was both fun and exhausting, but somewhere along the way I picked up a cold that really had me down for the count until yesterday. I made sure to continue with the self guided orientation at work each day, but at night I went home and directly to bed.

I also received sad news last week when I learnt that a former co-worker, Tim Rifenburg, lost his battle with cancer. Three days later I found out that a former co-worker of mine lost her husband, Scott Viera, to cancer as well. Both men were cancer survivors who ultimately lost their fight when the cancer returned. They are survived by their wives – Jenn Rifenburg who is only 31 and now widowed; Kelli Viera who is in her early 40s and now must care for her daughters without the help of her husband. It was really a depressing week and my heart still aches for their loss.

I have spent most of this week trying to get myself into a routine at PwC. People still are not use to the idea of my being here and with the team scattered across the northeast it is easy to be overlooked. This weekend my boss returns from a business trip that took him to Portugal, and I hope to talk to him for a bit at some point next week. I wish I had more to share, but the past week is one that I would sooner forget. Hopefully I’ll have more fun and interesting news to share in the following week.

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Orientation

Posted on March 5, 2008 | Leave a comment

Yesterday, I started my new job. The first week will be spent in orientation and today (my second day on the job) I flew to Atlanta to join approximately 75 new employees from all over the country. Today we were mostly fed company propaganda; mission statements, value speak, etc. However, I have to admit that I’ve found the dialog and the sessions very interesting.

The highpoint of the day was when I had to assemble a bicycle within a set time frame to be given to a local charity called CHRIS KIDS. This is an organization that offers free residential and summer programs as well as affordable mental health and substance abuse counseling to homeless children in Atlanta. For those who know me, the thought of me assembling anything is quite comical so I’m very proud that I was able to accomplish this with my team. I had hoped / thought I would be able to sit back and let more talented people assemble the bike but as it turned out – I was the one to do all / most of the work.

I am so pleased that my new employer included this in their orientation. The activity certainly made all the value speak from earlier in the day seem very real and not just semantics. They could have easily chosen another team building program that was either a contest or totally selfserving and the decision to turn this into an activity that gives back to such a worthy charity was not lost on me.

I’m still uncertain what my new job will bring, but I have definitely enjoyed this opportunity and am excited about moving forward.

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Tarnishing the American dream

Posted on February 29, 2008 | Leave a comment

Yestereday, the Associated Press (AP) reported that for the first time in history, more than 1 in every 100 American adults is in jail or prison. Statistics show that 1 in 30 men between the ages of 20 – 34 are incarcerated while the figure for black males in that same age group is 1 in 9.

What should one conclude from such figures? For me it is a stark reminder of the socio-economic inequities that exist and the adverse consequences that impact us all. Aside from the financial burden which finally has forced many conservatives to reevaluate this problem, what has been the cost in terms of ruined lives and lost opportunities for individuals and families? When one reads that more than 2.3 million people are in jail or prison and that minorities are so disproportionately affected does this mean that racism abounds? Does this mean that opportunities and chances to participate in the American dream are only accessible if you are white and make a certain amount of money?

I don’t have answers, but I believe these issues are symptomatic of larger problems. When more than 2.3 million lives are spent behind bars that impacts millions more (mothers, fathers, sons and daughters, etc). Forgetting about these people will not make the problem go away and does not make America a better place to live. We are free but we are also compassionate – we need to identify ways to make more opportunities available to everyone; we need to reach out beyond our own neighborhoods to build bridges rather than errecting barriers; we need to realize that we are all conncected and while our indvidual fortunes / misfortunes might only affect us and our families – collectively they affect us all.

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I want my FNX

Posted on February 28, 2008 | Leave a comment

Today was my first of three days off before I start my new job on Monday, and I was fairly productive running a bunch of errands. However that meant I spent most of the day in the car. I have been walking to work for nearly 10 years so it was odd for me to hear the voices of DJs I once upon a time listened to every day. I was especially pleased to listen to Julie Kramer. She DJs for 101.7 – WFNX from 10am – 2pm each weekday and during the lunch hour hosts the Left Over Lunch; check out today’s line-up it was excellent. This afternoon I drove around a bit just to keep listening to Julie play her magic. I’m still humming the Smith’s “Girlfriend in a Coma”.

I’m going to have to make it a point to listen to FNX on my PC more often since I don’t regularly find myself in a car. I’ll have to check out some of the programs I use to like listening to like Loveline and 1 in 10, because this was the perfect therapy for fighting GetMeTheHellOutOfHere Syndrome.

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Fighting GetMeTheHellOutOfHere Syndrome

Posted on February 25, 2008 | Leave a comment

Boston.com has been tempting all of us who suffer from getmethehelloutofhere syndrome with beautiful pictures from Brasil. For those not familiar with getmethehelloutofhere syndrome, it can be best described as a mental health disorder that begins to manifest itself shortly after the holiday season and grows into a full-blown epidemic in New England by early March. Those who suffer from the syndrome will tell you it is part depression, part cabin fever, mixed with an intolerable level of frustration from being cold 24/7. Personally, I blame this epidemic for single handedly causing so many surly faces and making the rest of the country think Bostonians aren’t friendly; we are really misunderstood because the medical community refuses to diagnose this horrible condition.

Anyway, kudos to Boston.com for doing their part to try and help Bostonians think of something other than depressingly low temperatures.

Rio de Janeiro is truly a blessed city with dramatic landscape and actual jungles that creep through a city that rivals New York City in size (actually it is larger than NYC). One of Rio’s most famous attractions Pão de Açúcar (Sugar Loaf) also is featured with a series of pictures that showcase the view of many of Rio’s beautiful beaches. The image at the top of this entry is of Sergio and me atop Sugar Loaf when we last visited the city in November of 2006. Iguazu Falls on the Brasil / Argentina border has to be one of the largest waterfalls in the world and is an excellent place to visit for a weekend. Niagara Falls is 1/5th the size of Iguazu which boasts a 500′ wide mouth and 2,300′ drop to create the largest waterfall I’ve ever seen. When Eleanor Roosevelt visited the site it is noted that she exclaimed, “Poor Niagara!” I would have to agree.

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