Another successful Summit in the books

{editor’s note: this blog entry was typed out Monday morning at approx 1:30 a.m., while waiting . . . and waiting, in LeGuardia}

I reflect back on this weekend, and can only say that I am truly blessed to have a brotherhood of men to whom I can turn to and always count on to be there for me, no matter what. This weekend, four of my fraternity brothers and I went up to Boston for the weekend. We got in Thursday night, and left this (Sunday) afternoon. Actually, they left this morning, while I had a little time to head over and walk around Harvard Yard for awhile before my flight this afternoon. We did a ton of stuff, cramming as many activities as we could into what was, essentially, two days and three nights.

What I’ll remember from the weekend, though, is not the sights and sounds of Boston. Those, of course, were great. I’m actually extremely impressed with Boston, and Fenway was everything you’d think it would be. What I’ll remember most, though, is just how important these brothers are to me. It truly underscored to me how vital have true friendships and connections in our lives can be for our overall health and outlook on life. No matter what storms in life may come, I never doubt for a minute that these men are always there for me. Till next year and New York, boys.

Boston Highlights

With all of that in mind, I do want to take a minute to sing Boston’s praises. We stayed at the Back Bay Hotel in the heart of Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood. It was just a great place, completely “walkable”. In fact, both Friday and Saturday night, we hung on the street outside the hotel till 2:00 a.m. just smoking cigars and watching the foot traffic. Saturday, we actually walked all the way around the neighborhood, going up and down Newbury St. As I mentioned, Fenway is a place that any baseball fan has to go and check out. Watching a game there is the kind of experience that you can only get at some of the true Meccas of baseball, along with Wrigley and, I can only assume, the old Yankee Stadium (reports on the new one make it out to be a bit of a cavern).

Of course, we did many of the “tourist” highlights as well. We walked the Freedom trail, strode aboard the U.S.S. Constitution (“Old Ironsides”), had some fresh oysters at the Original Oyster House, and shared food and laughs at the original Cheers bar. I’ll also give this little tidbit out to you – if you love you some Dunkin Donuts, this is the city for you.

Watching the sun come up on the tarmac

I’m typing this wonderful little entry in New York’s LaGuardia International Airport. I will be pitching my tent here tonight, thanks to US Airways and LaGuardia thinking that the severe weather was just too much to handle earlier tonight. On the way to Boston, I had a non-stop flight from Indy to Boston. Coming back, my path was to go from Boston to Buffalo to New York to Indianapolis. Unfortunately, we were held up in Buffalo, and then once we were near LaGuardia, we were put in a holding pattern for almost forty minutes. At that point, our plane had to go to Newberg-Stewart Airport (??) to land and refuel, and we had to deplane and figure out what on earth was going on. By the time we finally got to LaGuardia, all my worst fears had come true: US Airways flight to Indianapolis – CANCELLED.

So now, I’m set to leave here tomorrow at 10:59 a.m. and get into Indy at 1:22 p.m. US Airways, this was our first dance; it will also be our last.

Thoughts at the closing bell:

• The Dow closed above 9000 this week. It’s too early to be sounding the victory bells, and unemployment is not correcting itself anytime soon. Still, it was nice to see.
• I finally finished a book! On the flights this weekend, I officially closed the last pages on “The World is Flat” by Thomas Friedman. It was a little sad how proud I was of myself to have actually finished a book for the first time in almost a year. Seriously, that’s a little pathetic.  Next up – “The Road”
• Tigers took three of four this weekend from the Chi Sox to take a two game lead once again in the AL Central. They’re going to keep my blood pressure nice and high until September.
• You’re gonna be, a shining star, with fancy clothes, and fancy cars. And then you’ll see, you’re gonna go far, cause everyone knows just who you are. So live your life.

On love to you all. Holla.

I’m Shipping Up To Boston

Thanks go to the Dropkick Murphy’s, for inspiring this weeks title, from their identically titled song.  You may remember the song if you’ve seen the movie “The Departed”. This title is in honor of Thursday afternoon, when I fly off to Boston, MA. There, I’ll spend three days and three nights in one of America’s oldest cities with Cosa Nostra. This is the group of fraternity brothers that I’ve been taking annual trips with now for four years (with a pause coming last year since, well, I was already pretty well traveled in China and Kenya). We’ve done Las Vegas and Chicago previously, with the goal usually either being to end up in a city with a major league baseball team . . . or a ton of casinos. So, it’s basically any of thirty cities or Las Vegas.

For those wondering, Cosa Nostra was the term that the members of the Syndicate, or “The Mob”, used to use in reference to themselves back in the 40’s and 50’s. It translates to “our thing”. The FBI and other agencies started mistakenly calling it “La Cosa Nostra”, because basically, stupid white guys think that you should put “La” on anything that’s of Italian or Latin origin. White people are so stupid. And women be shoppin. Our Cosa Nostra includes Patty, Patrick Evans, Buckley, and Match. It’s not that we’re opposed to others joining us . . .  just no one has ever really expressed interest to. Maybe next year?

We all get in Thursday night, where we’ll kick off activities at the bar Cheers. Yup, that Cheers. Then Friday it’s off to TOMB, this weird interactive puzzle thing. Then it’s off to check out Harvard University, then back to the main part of the city for a tour of Fenway Park before dinner, then it’s Boston Red Sox vs. Baltimore Orioles at 7:10 p.m. Saturday will have us checking out the Freedom Trail, The USS Constitution, and the JFK Presidential Library and Museum. That night, we’ll go for oysters and clam chowder at America’s oldest restaurant, Union Oyster House. Sunday, it’s head back to our respective homes.

School, School

ONE PAPER. That’s all I have to freaking write to finish up my summer - and I can NOT motivate myself to do it. I don’t know what’s stopping me. In fact, nothing should be; I have to write it. And yet, here I am, bloggin. Good choice, Andy. That’s how you get the ol’ academic swagga back.

Justice Sotomayor – Why was I here again?

At this point and history, I think most people are under the misconception that you have to have confirmation hearings for every nominee to the Supreme Court. In fact, you do not. In fact, it was not till this century, around the 40’s and 50’s, that having these full blown question and answer sessions, held before the public, really became in fashion. Now, it seems like a given.

My thought this time around, though, is that it would have saved everyone a lot of time, money, and for some of the Senator’s, a little public dignity, if they would have just skipped it this time around. Why, you ask? Because it was pointless. There are 60 Dems in the Senate. More than that, there are a handful of Republicans that had already planned on voting for her as well. In fact, at the start of the sessions, Hard Right Republican Lindsay Graham (R – S.C.) even noted that there was pretty much nothing she could do to screw this up, short of a meltdown. Because of her very moderate appellate record, everyone knew that wasn’t happening either.

So why did they still go ahead and do it? For political theatre, nothing else. So the Republican Senators could show their constituents back home, “Hey, see how hard I’m giving it to this crazy, left-wing nominee? Vote for me again in 2010!” So that Democratic Senators could say “Hey, see how open-minded and multi-cultural I am, and how much I’ll fight for Obama’s decisions? Vote for me again in 2010!”

It really does make me crazy. Of course, it was Senator’s from my own party that made me the craziest, once again. They beat the “wise latina” remark into the ground, even though they were misconstruing and blowing up it’s importance to begin with. Senator Coburn at one point even said that, in regards to some of her past decisions, that she was “Gonna have some s’plainin to do”. Really??? Are you freaking kidding me? Are you really pulling out ol’ Dezi Arnez bits to aim at the first Latina nominee to the Supreme Court. Seriously, Republican Party, you’re on very thin ice with me at this point.

Thoughts at the closing bell:

• The Tigers came out of the All-Star Break and promptly lost three straight to the Yankees. Good job, boys. That’s how you strike fear into the league that you’ll be there in September. Actually, at that pace, they’re praying you’re still around in September.
• I’m going clothes shopping on Wednesday. Carson Praire Scott is having a crazy sale, and I am in desperate need of some new . . . well, everything.
• I’m down to 171.5, I put in 43 miles last week, and this week kicks off weight training/running weeks for the next few months. I will be in Boston in 2011.
• Only 150 so pages left in “The World is Flat”. Then, it’s on to “The Road”.

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

You Bethca!

Before I begin, let me be up front about this: A fan of Sarah Palins, I am not. In fact, her presence on the ticket almost had me voting for the Big O in 2008. I couldn’t take the fact that I was about to lift someone to the VP spot who didn’t appear to have any type of grasp on foreign policy issues, or national economic issues, or . . . well, anything outside of “Pulpit Issues” (i.e. abortion, same-sex marriage, etc.). She seemed to be simply a women (which McCain thought was gold, given on all the disheartened Hillary voters) who had been elected based on a fiery and admittedly likable personality in a state that wasn’t exactly at the forefront of national importance. So my opinion can not be said to be unbiased.

With that said, I was utterly amazed by her decision to step down from the Governorship of the state of Alaska. Her argument is that all of the media attention, ethics investigations, and scandal-probes have become a distraction from her job as Governor (this argument was supported by Stanley Fish in an article for the New York Times yesterday). She also said that, basically, she wasn’t going to run for a second-term, everyone knew this, so why waste time being a lame-duck?

Well, how about because you ran for a four-year term as Governor? All this jazz about, “I just want to do the best I can as a public servant.” Well, the best you could do would involve actually serving for the entire term that the people of Alaska elected you to, I would think. No, instead, we are told that, just like a good point-guard would dish off to the more open teammate, it’s better for the people of Alaska if she dishes off to her Lt. Governor to finish her job for her.

I’m sorry, I just can’t buy it. I also don’t buy, though, the argument that her only motivation is to get more attention down in the 48 contiguous so that she can run in 2012. I think her motivation is not as much white, as in the house, but green (as illustrated in this interesting piece from The Daily Beast). If this is the more correct assessment, and I tend to think that it is, then maybe she’s much more brilliant then we’ve given her credit for; or, at the very least, more opportunistic then anyone imagined.

Marathon, Marathon, where for art thou, Marathon?

So, as stated previously, my BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal) for the the couple of years (deadline: 2011) is to qualify for the Boston Marathon. That’s going to require some major training. Yesterday, I selected an advanced training program from Nike’s new redesigned Nike + portal. It’s a really well-designed site, and I look forward to this challenging new program. In the meantime, though, I need to select a marathon for the fall/winter to make my goal. Any suggestions?

4th of July: Rainforest Edition

So this 4th of July, the Heaton’sdecided to have our first annual party at our new house. Every year at our apartment in Indy, we’d have a huge party with everyone over because we had a perfect view of the downtown fireworks. This year, we opened up our home to all of Holly’s new intern class. We had cornhole set up, a slip-n-slide ready to unfurl, and tons of food for the grill. Unfortunately, mother nature wasn’t down with our plans, and decided to make the entire day pretty much a drizzly, blah mess. Fortunately, our house has plenty of room in the dining room, living room, and kitchen, and so everyone was still able to hang around and have a good time. Still, not quite the 4th we were hoping for.

Thoughts at the closing bell:

• At some point this week, I WILL go and see The Hangover. I really want to see it, but also, I just want people to stop asking, “Have you seen The Hangover yet???”
• The Tigers bullpen is awful, and our bats are nearly comatose. Our starting pitching is the only thing keeping us in this. How we’re still in first place, I have no clue.
• I’m really enjoying my job, so this at least confirms in some respect that Law School was the correct decision to make.
• I’m actually almost halfway through The World is Flat by Friedman.
• Tonight is my last class session of the summer semester!!!!!!

That’s all for now. One love. Holla..

Fear of Posting Overload

Ok, so I have to admit right off the bat: I’ve been scarred to post this last week. Why? Simply put, after my last post, EVERYTHING happened. Literally, EVERYTHING happened. As events kept multiplying, I kept thinking about, “How massive would my post have to be to give adequate attention to EVERYTHING?” Well, finally, I’ve just decided to go for it. If I underplay something, then I’ll just have to live with that shame.

Wait, he’s NOT the father??

In case you haven’t heard (which would mean that you live in an Amish community that is located on an island in the middle of the Siberian Sea), Michael Jackson passed away last week. The news has not let a day go by without bringing up the King of Pop. Bill Simmons mentioned this on his podcast, and I agreed: I’m, frankly, shocked at the response to his death. I am in no way questioning this man’s musical talent and the gifts he gave to the world. I don’t even challenge that he’s as important to the world of art as many are claiming he was. What I”m simply perplexed by, however, is the number of people gushing over him now who, just a month, a year, even five to ten years ago, would have had nothing nice to say about him, simply talking about what a freak show his life had become. Simply put, it’s as if his death has allowed society to seemingly “forget” the last fifteen years, and simply dwell upon the good times, the “Thriller” days of Michael Jackson.

I have been very intrigued by the revelation that he is not that father of his three kids. Not just the fact that he never had sex with Debbie Rowe (which I never really seriously considered), but that he wasn’t even a sperm donor, or even remotely associated by DNA with these kids. I think it really sheds an even crazier light on the situation. Essentially, it means that he bought these three kids. That’s pretty wild.

PS – Why does Nancy Grace think we care so much about the “legal ramifications” of his will? Why does Nancy Grace still have a show? Have I mentioned I can’t stand Nancy Grace?

Jon & Kate + Heartache

Well, my bet on a pony turned out to be just slightly off. The Gosselins are indeed going their separate ways. I won’t belabor the subject, because at this point it’s been talked into the ground. I’ll simply say that it was hard to watch two people just flush out their raw emotions on camera like that. I was actually delighted to hear the next day that TLC was suspending production for a few months to let them “clear their heads” and try to “bring some healing” to the family. Maybe if they’d suspended production a year ago, this newest suspension wouldn’t be necessary; or maybe not. Sometimes, you just realize that what’s broke can’t be fixed.

In other celebrity death news

Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, and Billy Mays have all died in the last week. Those deaths, combined with Michael Jacksons’, really cast an eerie pall upon the week. Of those three, I’m saddest probably about Billy Mays. Mostly because he was so young. McMahon and Fawcett had the opportunities to live full lives. Billy was really just starting to ramp up his career. Plus, who didn’t want to buy OxiClean at 3:00 a.m. once Billy got done shouting at you?

On a side note, his commercials for ESPN.com that played on ESPN and allowed him to really ham up his “pitchman” persona were great.

No, seriously, stop using coal. We really mean it this time.

The House of Representatives recently passed the most comprehensive, far-reaching energy bill in the history of the U.S. Many on the right claim that, of course, it goes too far and that it will destroy the economy because it will make energy too expensive, and will price out American businesses going against unregulated industries in China and India. The Liberal left, while somewhat satisfied, has taken the President to task for not going far enough in pushing the environmental envelope.

First off, something that needs to be realized right away is that the Senate still has to approve this baby. Even with the Dems now holding a “super-majority” thanks to the election of Senator-Elect Stuart Smalley . . . I’m sorry, Al Franken, the majority is still going to have a problem with Blue Dog senators from coal-rich states (I’m looking at you, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, etc.). So the chances of this bill being watered down even more are fairly high.

Secondly, I find it funny when certain conservatives . . . ok, nearly ALL conservatives completely dog the environmental effort. They lambastAl Gore and anyone else who talks about global warming, which they feel is a complete fabrication of reality made up by bleeding-heart liberal scientists. They love to point to cooler days and the summer and make “witty” jokes like, “Boy, sure do hate this global warming.” Haha! See what they did, their? It was an ironic statement, because it’s actually a cooler day in June – Global Warming must be ludicrous, right?

The problem with this attitude is that it completely ignores and puts to te side ALL of the other realities of the environmentalists argument about energy conservation and alternative fuels that are not based on “speculative” science, but are based on numerical realities. These include:

1. Peak Oil – The fact that we do NOT have a limitless supply of oil available on the globe is inescapable
2. Dwindling Forrests – The fact that we are chopping down our rainforests at a ridiculous rate is not arguable
3. Overfishing – We have fished the worlds seafood supply to scarily low numbers

These are just a handful of environmentalist causes that can’t be argued because they’re based on simple facts. I realize the last two don’t really deal with energy, but they are part of my larger argument that certain parts of the “Green Movement” can’t be pushed away as conservatives would like to do. For them to do this, they would have to admit that they are only worried about today, or their children, and that they really couldn’t care about the next seven or eight generations after them. This is crazy to me.

I feel like maybe I should stop now, and just turn this into it’s own post at a later date. Making a mental note now.

Anniversary of the Birth of the Nation

On a note we can all agree on, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, U.S.A.! One of the greatest experiments in government ever to grace the earth. “I’m proud to be an American, where at least I know I’m free.” Who doesn’t love some Greenwood on this weekend? I could go on and on about how much, despite my love of travels and all of the other cultures I’ve seen, I love this country, but I will restrain myself. This post has already gotten out of hand length wise.

Thoughts at the closing bell:

• So I mentioned last time that I am not really one for keeping up on the music scene. I do, however, have a love for podcasts. I listen to them wherever I go, whether walking, running, whatever, I’m always listening to podcasts. Here are my favorites, in no particular order. Try them out, see if you like them as well:
•  The B.S. Report with ESPN’s “The Sports Guy”, Bill Simmons – If you love sports and pop culture, you’ll love Simmons.
• Democracy Now! w/ Amy Goodman – Ok, so it’s a VERY left learning podcast, let me give that warning first. My thoughts, though, are that if you never hear both sides of an argument, how can you every truly argue it? If nothing else, it’s food for thought
• Common Sense and Hardcore History w/ Dan Carlin – These are two of my favorite podcasts. Common Sense is a show that focuses on a particular topic of the week, usually political or governmental, and proceeds to dissect it with, you guessed it, common sense analysis. It’s neither right nor left (though it leans libertarian). Hardcore History delves into a different historical topic or story each month, and provides amazing depth and background on many subjects that you may have not even known anything about. His series on the Carthaginian Wars in ancient Rome is my recommendation to get you started.
• John Eldridge and Ransomed Heart – This is usualyl around a 15-minute podcast, updated daily, that’s good for those looking for something to possibly punch up their daily time spent contemplated God.
• 1 Year Daily Audio Bible – Around thirty-five to forty minutes, simply a guy reading a chapter from three different books of the bible. At this time, it’s going through Kings, Acts, and Proverbs. Another good one for someone looking for a way to attack devotion from a fresh perspective.
• Real Time with Bill Maher – This is simply the audio for his HBO show. Once again, food for thought from various perspectives on current events is never a bad thing (caution: it is an HBO show, so language should be expected)
• The Adam Carolla Show – Because Carolla always has a comedian or someone else on who is hysterical, and they just shoot the breeze and make wise for about an hour (caution: this is another one that maybe isn’t for your toddler to listen along with you).
• Stuff You Missed in History Class from How Stuff Works.com – About a fifteen to twenty minute podcast that just simply provides a little information about a different historical subject once a day.

That’s all for now, kids. I’m exhausted. One love to you all.