Legend of the “Daywalker”

“Daywalker” is what all the vampires called Blade in Wesley Snipes beloved (is that a stretch . . . how about well liked?) trilogy about a half-human/half-vampire vampire hunter who could walk around in the day light. I use this as a reference point because, as of late, I feel much like a vampire. I can walk around in the daylight, but all of my energy and strength is used up in my nighttime activities. Now, you might be saying, “That a way Andy, party it up!” Alas . . . not those type of night time activities. No, these are of the “class until 8 and 9 pm” variety.

The light, however, is at the end of the tunnel. After a weekend spent cooped up in a lecture hall, discussing joint venture and Chinese business strategies, my International Competitive Strategy class is finally over. What does that mean? It means no more class on Monday nights. That’s one more night back in my arsenal! That just leaves T and TH night Sex Discrimination classes that should only last until a few weeks into July.  Then maybe, just maybe, I’ll have an ounce of relaxation and, dare I say, fun, before the Fall Semester starts back.

And Iran, Iran so far away . . .

In the last week, as Iran has seen itself plunge into a pattern of protest marches and riot police push-backs, many have speculated that this is the beginning of the end for the Ayatollahs. I mean, this looks just like the Orange Revolution in the Ukraine, right? East Germany in 1989, as the wall fell? This is the beginning of the end, ain’t it?

It would be nice to know. Unfortunately, there is a a large degree of uncertainty and difference in the way these riots and protests should be viewed. First off, those revolutions were really about nationalistic pride going against continued dominance by foreign powers (in both of my examples, Russian interference to be exact). Here, though, there is no rally against another nation. This is purely an internal debate. As such, there is less international pressure than there were in the previous examples. In those situations, the world could say to Russia, “Listen to these people, you must respect their sovereignty”. Well, whose sovereignty is to be respected here? This is purely an Iranian issues. Some could argue it’s the sovereignty of the populace versus the religious elite, but to be fare, it was by every honest account the “populace” who put the religious elite in charge to begin with in 1979. In the end, I don’t see this being the birth of democracy that some are hoping for. But it is a start to something.

Onward to Boston

The plane tickets have been purchased. On July 24th, I will be heading to Boston for the 3rd Annual Cosa Nostra Summit. Last years was put on hold because of my travels to China and Kenya. This year, though, Patty, Patrick, Buckley, Match, and myself will be touring the mean streets of Boston, MA. Of course, there will be a trip to Fenway involved. There will be a ton of historical places to check out, museums to visit, and all around good times to be had. This is truly brotherhood as friendship of the highest calling.

Why can’t I just be in Cincinnati already?

We’re now getting close to one month in of the great Indy-Cinci experiment. It’s been ok so far, but now that Holly has officially started, it’s becoming a lot more apparent just how difficult this is going to be at times. It’s just a lot to juggle. I love this women, though, and I have no doubt we can make it work. I love our new house and our new neighborhood though, and frankly, this “bachelor” lifestyle that everyone keeps giving me the wink-and-the-gun about is getting old fairly quickly. I just want to mow my lawn and play fetch with my dogs already (mark it – that’s officially the point in my life when I turned 45).

Thoughts at the closing bell:

• Tigers are in first place, with a four game cushion over Minnesota. I have a good feeling about this season. Just looks like all the pieces could be there.
• Financial Tip – Schwab High Interest Checking accounts. Ditch your crappy bank and get yourself a No-Fee ATM card and a bank account that gives you interest. It’s how all the playa’s play.
• I feel more musically out of touch right now than I ever have in my life. I couldn’t BEGIN to tell you what artists or musicians are popular on the radio right now. (maybe THAT’s the statement where I officially turned 45).
• Jon and Kate had a “special announcement” tonight. Most bets are on divorce. I’m betting on a pony.

One love to you all. Holla atcha boy.

Guiness, My So-Called Life, and a Touch of Gray

I don’t want to say that 27 “hit me”. When I turned that ripe old age yesterday, I didn’t particularly feel “traumatized” by it. I’m ok with it. It’s not a scary age by any means. I would be lying to not admit, however, that it does have a different ring in my mind than all the ages before it. I don’t know really how to explain why it’s older . . . but it just is. It’s older. It sounds older.  For now, though, I’m good with it. I’m actually none-to-afraid of 30. As I explained to someone a few weeks ago, 30 gives a man credibility. For women it’s an age of dread, but for men, its almost an age of validation. So yes, I’m ok with 27.

 

A pint of Guiness . . . maybe two.

Last week, Holly and myself finally got the vacation that we have long been looking forward to. As a reward for Holly’s graduation, we went on a cruise that left out of London and went to Ireland. We spent two days at sea, a day in Dublin, and a day in Cork. We went to the Guiness Brewery, the Dublin Zoo, and Blarney Castle  (where yes, we did in fact kiss the Blarney Stone). It was a great trip in that we both got to see countries we’ve never seen before. More than that, though, it was a great trip because, after weeks of stress from the move, the house, Holly’s graduation, we finally got to truly and honestly relax. We made a pledge to not check our emails for the entire trip. It was truly freeing. We got to focus on only each other and the task of de-stressing. It was a beautiful thing, indeed. Ireland wasn’t too shabby either. Avoid Dublin, though, it’s just a city. Embrace the countryside. That’s the Ireland you’re paying for.

 

My So-Called Life

I phrase it like this for the following reasons. On Monday-Friday, I’m working from 8am to 5pm as a law clerk at a law firm here in downtown Indy. On Monday nights, I have an MBA class, “Int’l Competitive Strategies”, from 5:45 pm to 9:15 pm. That is not a typo. On Tuesday and Thursday nights, I’m in “Sex Discrimination” over at the law school from 5:30 pm to 7:45 pm. On Wednesday nights, there is bible study from 7:30 pm to 10:00 pm. Did I mention that I live alone, as Holly has now officially moved to our house in Cincinnati. I’m living in my friends one-bedroom condo here downtown, since she moved to Chicago and hasn’t sold the place yet (though it could sell at any moment, at which point I would again need to relocate). My essential point is this – I have no life right now. I’m just a law school-MBA-law clerk machine, who doesn’t know the definition of fun.  December, you can’t arrive soon enough.

 

Jon and Kate + Annoying

So, I’ll admit – I’m a sucker for tabloid covers. Mags like Us, People, and Ok! will have me captivated in line at the grocery store. As we were getting ready to leave for Chicago (that’s where we flew out of to go to London), Holly and me caught some episodes of Jon and Kate + 8. I was mesmerized. Why would these people do this? Isn’t eight kids hard enough? Why would you want a film crew around all the time? And after twins, you went back for more??? I know I’m late to the game on this show, big time, but still.

All this to say, in the airport, Holly picked up the People magazine with Jon and Kate on the cover. I would be lying if I didn’t say I was excited, because I wanted to know! Is Kate really this big of a biatch? Is Jon really this much of a pansy? I needed to know, dammit! Well, People “confirmed” my beliefs that, yes, Kate is a batsh*t crazy, media hungry Harpie from the planet Estrogen. Feel free to enlighten me, though, if you think I’m totally wrong. Because really, I’m basing this opinion on no more than three episodes watched and two tabloid magazine articles. I’m open to being proven wrong.

 

Thoughts at the closing bell:

• The Tigers are holding into 1^st place in the AL Central. I really do think that they will still be there by the time October comes around. I’m just not impressed by the total package of any other team in the AL Central.
• Living alone when you’re married SUCKS.
• I’m pretty interested by the reaction from the different areas of the political spectrum to President Obama’s  Middle East tour. Conservatives (hard-righters, I mean) are saying that this is his time to finally open up about his true Muslim upbringing and intentions. Lefties say this is his chance to undo all the evils of W. in one swoop. I think reality will be a little bit more towards the middle.
• I finally started a new book! Does that mean that I’ve finished Einstein? Umm, no. But hey, I have gotten several chapters in to The World Is Flat by Thomas Friedman. It’s a great read so far, and I find that I’m “discovering” a lot more thoughts and ideas than I thought I would when I started the book.
• Lakers in seven.

That’s all for now kids. One love to you all. Holla.