A Month in Boston

The Alameda circa 1950 will return at some point. For now a retrospective of my time in Boston after a full month of being back on the Heights.

Flying in was pretty rough as usual what with the goodness of a red eye. I think I watched Obama's speech 11 times. Kevin and his mom picked me up at Logan. From there it was back to BC...this time on lower in Edmonds. I think it took me all of 20 minutes to unpack. I remember watching the TV waiting to hear who McCain would pick as his running mate. I can't believe it has only been a month of Palin. Damn. Soon after Kevin and I threw the baseball and that was that.

First weekend consisted of dumpster dives and bartending school to the extreme. Following was Shovelhead auditions and a classy dinner party.

Long story short this month is much better than any of the previous. Last year at this time I felt as though I had been at BC forever and came home for a quick visit not long after. I mean you never have to give me an excuse to get back to the murda and see the classy people that like me, call it home. I still remember coming home last October...within seconds of hitting the ground I was partying with Shane and Jazzy. Fuck new york, alameda is the city that never sleeps. the day after that tommy and I spent part of the afternoon from his porch. Of all the porches Ive had the pleasure of sitting on I have to say that Tommy's is an easy favorite.

Anyway life is well here in BeanTown. Im currently searching for a job somewhere close by. We'l l see what we come up with.

Alameda circa 1950s

I am feeling a little nostalgic this evening and thought I would write a creative piece this morning. This came about a few minutes ago when I was browsing allposters.com to add to the Edmond's Penthouse. If you want to read about Neptune Beach check out the goodness http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neptune_Beach,_California So without further delay I give to you my vision of Alameda, Calif. in the 1950s and what like would be life:

6:45am. I wake up to the sound of my alarm clock. The anvil rattles opposite the two bells just inches from my bed. I walk down the hall and splash water cooled by the brisk September night which remained undisturbed through the night until my hands plunged into the icy depths of the white porcelain sink. Next comes the hair combing and teeth brushing. A staple of any morning routine.

7am. I'm dressed in my jeans, cuffs rolled up so as to show off my Chuck Taylor Hightops, and my tucked in red and white plaid shirt. Downstairs my mother has already fixed breakfast as she walks over and spoons oatmeal onto my plate. A clump of the oatmeal falls from the wooden spoon and lands on her apron behind which is her blue dress being complimented by the pearls my father gave her for their 20th wedding anniversary. Across from me my father reads the morning paper which is plagued by news of the Soviets. I devour my oatmeal then rush out the door and out to Central Ave.

7:10 am. As I walk down Central I look up at the trees. I always marvel at how Central Ave. is a tree lined avenue...roughly the Spanish translation of Alameda. As I walk towards Alameda High with books in my left hand the wind picks up and intermixes with the smog coming from the Ford T-Bird which just passed me as it rumbles towards Park St.

7:25am. I reach my first stop of the morning. Shane's house. We continue on until we reach Tommy's. It is time. We proudly put on our letterman's jackets and walk towards the rising son towards Alameda High.

8am. We walk through a flood of pootle skirts and think rimmed glasses towards our lockers. The three of us are filled with anticipation as tonight is the big football game.


(More to follow. This really doesn't have a purpose except that I feel that Alameda was the prennial 1950s town. I'm attaching the postcard that brought about this whole composition.)

Shake ya Ass, Watch yourself

I was struck by what Shane wrote this morning, "I'm lookin' forward to the future but I'm not waiting for it." Truer words have yet to be spoken. At times it feels as though September just won't end. It has been the slowest month in recent memory. But then again you just have to go with the flow. I have nothing exciting waiting for me in October, at least not that I know of. "Tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms further…And on fine morning - / So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past."

Baseball

I'm ready for my team to return to the majors.

Swinging for those fences.

The Summer Continued

Week 4 is where I left off. That tuesday I went to the stevie wonder concert with katie and had a great time but dang it was hot. Wednesday was an interesting and therefore most treasured of the field trips. We headed out to Zeum. A camp field trip staple. Perhaps the greatest thing was Jay-Z's "Change Clothes" Koston had the lyrics down until we got to the N-bomb showing up on the screen. I wish they would have recorded that...or any of the music videos for that matter. What really struck me was that at the park that afternoon (with the company of the clown or whoever that park moniter was) was the first time Patrick, Koston, and I really bonded. It just seemed to me that the fambam evolved from that of the past to a newer better fambam. It reminded me of last summer when the Joe/Mike combo mixed with the Tommy/Shane combo. Something funny about camp-we just all blend into something beautiful. That week I did the field trip with Patrick. Probably one of the calmest overnights I have ever done. Things just got rolling and no problems. Next day I was cooking at Audrey and Megan's birthday bbq and fed homeless people all while fighting with my weapon of choice- cupcakes.

FLASHBACK TO WEEK 1: See this is what I'm talking about I hella forgot the first sleepover and the Disney power hour which ended with Tommy, Patrick, and I swimming naked laps.

The next week was the abortion that is the Hyde St. Pier. Another hot day in the city but we got through it just fine. The Dark Knight dropped that week. I still love that movie. It was just all kinds of madness. Shane and I made friends at the Pizza of My Heart and "drank hella Starbucks." That Thursday Brittany and I went down to Mountain View to get the flags for Olympic week. Craziest place ever.

That weekend we found ourselves at the Park St. Art&Wine Faire. More madness when it came to the draft. What was Koston thinking? Honduras, Somalia, Argentina, France, Sweden, and SVG. What a crazy Olympic contest. I still think we deserved the Gold. Whatever. That was also the infamous 26 hour day. Horrible idea until you see that paycheck.

The 27th I saw James Taylor with my mom and had an awesome time. A's game field trip is always classy. Nothing like getting paid to watch baseball.

We saw Brenden Fraiser rip of his sleeves and fight vaginas in 3D the next week.

Next came the AT&T park tour which gave way to one of my favorite pictures of the summer even though my eyes are closed. Whatever. I still like it.

Then came Ice Skating. It was kinda weird going to lunch with Anna at La Salsa. We did the exact same thing the year before so I reflected on what had happened since and started to wonder about what La Salsa and the surrounding area had seen since our previous trip. Yes, philosophical. And with that we had Margs in the shed, Shane got the much deserved Associate of the Month and made his last day of camp something of which legends are written. I can only hope to capture such a feat in my life.

That weekend I worked the Italian dinner and had thoughts of going to Crazy Horse. We had the counselor cocktail and again the waffles were made. Shane and Pat came over to dinner before I left for Boston and put an end to the summer of 2008.

So these are just what I remember. But my elementry command of the English language fails to really capture what this summer was. While I have left somethings out like those Ash Wednesdays, random outings, playing bongos and watching fire dancing from Tommy's porch, and countless other happenings they live on in our memories. Every so often a new memory pops into my mind. To say the least this summer was like nothing else. Even now I can think of numerous things I left out but the important thing is that I still have them in my memory so I will the summer of 2008 like this, we came home, we heated up, and we were on fire and still are.

Nice Bocc!

Memories

Now that some time has passed since the end of summer I thought I'd just did down and commit to word everything I remember. Things might not be chronologically correct and I may even leave some things out. That's ok. So here we go turning back the hands of time to May 12, 2008:

I finished my last final and packed up the rest of my crap. My dad was able to make it on to ticketmaster during my final and get tickets to the Stevie Wonder concert. I hung around my room until 10 or so then walked down to 2000 Comm to leave my crap at George's. A cab driver helped me out with the bags and I got set up with no problems. From there I went to 20 South where we started drinking and then headed to the Fine House. I soon realized that if I kept drinking I'd be screwed because I had an early flight out. So after a bit I walked back to George's ordered Roogie's and watched the Notorious BIG story. Called a cab and made it to Logan. Got on the plane and headed home. Once there I had to help move some stuff for my cousin then I picked Shane up and we went to the HBC. I remember that was the first time I had seen Shane after he got his haircut. I met Koston and Patrick then we made a necessary La Pinata run.

The next day I went to the SI Chorale Concert and my brother's track dinner. At the time I was reading Live From New York. Thursday morning I flew to San Diego for Sun God. I drank way too much that Friday and passed out for three hours. Kevin and Rachel got crazy messed up which was even funnier. I never saw Sean Kingston. We did go for Mexican food in Old Town that evening.

Got back to Alameda and got a haircut on Monday the 19th. It was my first haircut is over a year. The 20th was Jury Duty which was a waste of time. Starting the 21st Shane and I conducted CIT interviews. We looked damn fine in those suits.

On the 27th I again flew to San Diego. This time with Katie who was up for the weekend. I forgot my cell phone which was kinda crazy. The evening of the 28th Kevin and I went to a Padres' game. It was my first time in the stadium and I really liked it. Katie and I went to the USS Midway and toured it. She also had a sorority dance. Things were pretty crazy but I had some mean tea so it was all good. Got back that Sunday and just hung around for a week.

June 8th was Ryan's birthday and we went to Taylor's in the ferry building. Next day was the staff meeting for camp. I didn't remember ever meeting Julie and for the longest time I couldnt tell Kiley or Lacey.

At some point, probably before this, Stacy came home and she, Shane, and I played Marg pong for the first time. That was a beautiful creation.

Now comes camp which tends to just all blend in together so now I really know I'm going to be jumping around.

We opened on the 16th. I had a meeting at Cal that day. The field trip was bowling. It was whatever. Not a bad way to open up the season. Some time around there we all went to La Pinata and Chappy got stuck paying $35 and she was pissed. We went to Hannah Greenburg's that night and had gotten skunked at Chappy's so we all took a shower. I got mad drunk and put gin in the beer. I talked to Tommy for 20 minutes not realizing he was passed out. Shane and I worked the grill for the first smokey time.

Week 2 brought the movie theater which is by far the sickest field trip ever imagined. Kung Fu Panada was exactly what the doctor ordered.

Week 3 came out of nowhere and it seemed as though time was moving at a crazy pace. We went onboard the USS Pampanito and that is all that needs to be said about that. Friday brought the 4th of July which was by far the best 4th I've ever had. It started with the parade and my dad. A sort of tradition that has formed. Then the HBC crew made their way over and things just got silly. Brittany threw up in my garage or however you want to put it. We rode bikes around and made it to Chappy's then came the murder of Aquatics. I also got to take care of Maddie.

Week 4 and beyond in a bit.

Be good, Have fun

Advice from Stacy Kaney.

I'm happy to say I'm doing both out here in Beantown.

It is raining like nobody's business. Still haven't gotten use to walking outside when it is 70 degrees and having it rain on you. Something about warm rain just doesn't work for me. Rain has always been associated with cold/winter to me. Basically, my body is all messed up. My eyes see rain my mind thinks cold = winter = snow = Santa Claus. The fat man is still vacationing in the Bahamas. Stay focused Joe.

With the new members in Shovelhead I'm no longer the Rook. It is a pretty cool feeling to know that youve done your time and you dont have to do the bitch work anymore.

I'm up to my neck in philosophy. Descartes, Aristotle, Plato, Bacon, and Socrates. All in my Fav-5.

It is a weird feeling but I cant help but sense that Ive been here for months when really we are talking days. That doesnt mean to say I am longing for a change nor am I complaining. Rather just observing.

One thing I do miss: Driving.

917

Back at BC. Polar opposite of last year. Not to say that in the course of two weeks I am totally sold on it by any means. However, compared to where I was in May and where I am now this is a good place. However, I still don't know if this is the right place for me or if I'll ever know. Rather, it is familiar and often times those familiar things offer us comfort simply because they are just that-familiar. But we move forward and conquer. I still havent been to one of my classes. Not a good thing. I can't fall into my habits of last year. That won't work for anybody.

I miss those people in Alameda. But as Shane pointed out they no longer reside there. At least not for the moment. When I look back on the summer one of the first things to strike me is simply how long the damn thing was. I'm tired of evaluating it or looking back on it. I have fond memories that I will always treasure but now I look towards the future. The roads we are on will lead back to each other whether they have pit stops in Alameda, Boston, San Francisco, London, Eugene, Santa Clara, or Florence. We're family.

I'm happy with the decisions I've made. They weren't popular and I might have lost something precious. But I still justify it by knowing that I lost that precious thing without tarnishing it. It will always shine.

I move forward. In the days ahead we'll see what happens. I think I'm chasing a phantom who was born on two random occasions but we'll see.

Its time to focus on becoming a better sketch writer.

Do work.

77 Degrees and Raining? Pepper that's humidity

I've been back in Boston for over a weekend but it feels like much longer. That is neither a good thing or a bad thing. Rather, just an observation. With so many changes going on time seems to slow down. I still haven't gotten into a daily routine as I try and feel out the semester. Already I am feeling better than the past two semesters. I can't believe it is only September 6th. Once time starts to move I have no doubt it wont be a big deal but part of me can't help but look at a calender and say, "Oh shit." After spending 10 weeks with some of the greatest people ever known it is hard to communicate only by phone, text, or e-mail. There are times where I want to bocce or head to Crazy Horse. But the time apart only makes the time you're together that much more special so we march on.

My return to Boston almost seems like a return to a different world. The set up this year is much better and I didn't have the same feelings of an outsider looking in. I know these streets and after being in Boston for 24 hours I was already doing work at the bar tending school. We are doing just fine. Now I gotta read these books apparently.